By: Audrey Raymonda John
Cyril Harold Smith purportingt to be an investigative Journalist has on Friday 4th November,2022 was granted bail in the sum of NLe 200, 000 with two sureties, resident in Freetown after made his first appearance before Mark Ngegbe of Pademba road court No.1 in Freetown.
Defendant Cyril Harold Smith is in court for obtaining money by false pretences contrary to section 32 1 of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particular offense, Cyril Harold Smith on diverse date between August 2020 to November, 2021 at Freetown obtained the sum of Le 23.00000 twenty three million Leones old Leones from the complainant for the purpose of renting an office space , Le 30,000.000 thirty million Leones for Kaekek tricycle , Le 15, 000.000 fifteen million Leones for one pathfinder jeep, Le 20, 000.000 twenty million Leons for three mortuary vehicle , le 6,000.000 six million for dell lap top computer, le 7,000.000 seven million for office furniture and repairs, le 1,000.000 one million for sierra Leone pass port, le 500,000 five hundred thousand Leone for Wifi modem and 300USD equivalent to le 4.8000,000 million and Eight hundred thousand Leone all the total sum if Le 102, 5000,000 for the purpose of crediting and falsely pretending to produce some within a month period which he fail to do.
Testifying in court, Esther Wilson complainant narrated that she knew the defendant in 2020 when her husband died.
She narrated that August 2020 to November 2021, the defendant came to her house with other unknown persons to sympathize with him, adding that the defendant told him that he knew the deceased as colleague they used to drink ‘’Ataya.
Madam Esther said when the defendant came to visit her she told him that she had an issue with her Kekeh rider, adding that she told him that she needed a rider that is staying within the western Area.
The complainant narrated that she later handover the kekeh keys to the defendant.
Madam Esther also told the court that sum of Le 23.00000 Twenty Three Million Leones old Leones from the defendant for the purpose of renting an office space with an additional Le 20, 000.000 twenty million Leones to purchase mortuary vehicle, but he purchased an old vehicle for the office, she narrated.
She said the defendant ask for le 7,000.000 seven million for office furniture to repairs, Five million to repaired an old car, le 1,000.000 One million for Sierra Leone pass port, le 500,000 five hundred thousand Leone for Wifi modem and 300USD equivalent to le 4.8000,000 million and Eight hundred thousand Leone she gave.
Complainant was Cross Examine, which she testify that she cannot recalled the actual registration number of the kekeh.
She said that the owner of the live card was one Thomas Blango, adding that the kekeh was involved in an accident.
She narrated that she visited the office often and meet office equipment but the defendant was not giving her an update of the business.
Magistrate Mark Ngegbe adjoined the mater 15th November 2022.