By: Audrey Raymonda John
A 39-year-old Lebanese national, Khaled Jammow, has been denied bail by Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 2 in Freetown, where he is facing charges of obtaining money by false pretences and larceny involving alleged financial losses and property valued in thousands of US dollars.
Jammow, an aluminium worker residing in Murray Town, Freetown, was arrested on October 21, 2026, and charged under Sections 32(1) and 2 of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, between July 29 and October 15, 2026, at Hill Cut Road, Freetown, Jammow allegedly obtained Le360,000, stated to be equivalent to US$14,000, from Isata Bayoh Koroma by falsely representing that he would supply and install aluminium windows and sliding entrance doors, knowing that the representation was false.
He is also accused of stealing 30 pieces of Haloko boards valued at US$7,200, equivalent to Le175, 600, and an item described in the charge particulars as “twenty cillecons,” valued at US$3,000, equivalent to Le73, 200.
The alleged stolen items, said to belong to Koroma, have a combined stated value of Le248, 800.
When the matter came before the court, defence counsel F. Bayoh applied for bail on behalf of the accused, citing Section 76(1)(c) of Act No. 8 of 2024.
Counsel argued that Jammow was a businessman with family ties in Sierra Leone and was not a flight risk. He further told the court that the accused had credible and reliable sureties who could support his bail application.
Bayoh urged Magistrate Fornah to exercise his discretion in favour of the accused, arguing that bail would be in the interest of justice.
However, prosecutor Sorie Conteh informed the court that Jammow had been arrested on a bench warrant.
After considering the application, Magistrate Fornah refused bail, citing the seriousness of the alleged offences.
The matter was adjourned to October 29, 2026, for further proceedings.
V.N. Ngombu and I. Kamara appeared for the prosecution, while F. Bayoh and F. Forfanah represented the accused.