By: Audrey Raymonda John
Joseph Sheku Peter Tewuleh lecturer at Fourah Bay College (USL), on Tuesday January 17th 2023, made his first appearance before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Court No. 1 on Pademba road, Freetown, when he was accused by one Thomas Mayei Kpanga a Social Worker working at the United States of America of converting his vehicle ownership to himself when he gave him to sell.
The accused is charged on a count of fraudulent conversation contrary to Section 20 (1) (iv) (a) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the charge sheet, the accused Joseph Sheku Peter Tewuleh on a date unknown between 1st -31st April 2022, at Matorkor Calaba town, Freetown fraudulently converted to his own use or benefit certain property that is to say one Honda pilot jeep valued at ten thousand United States dollars, equivalent to one hundred and ninety thousand Leones entrusted to him by Thomas Mayei Kpanga for the purpose of sale.
When the charge was read to the accused no plea was taken.
Assistant Superintendent of police Ibrahim S Mansaray lead Prosecution witness number one Thomas Mayei Kpanga a Social Worker resides in the United States of America, said he recognized the accused person through his wife as family member.
He recalled on a date unknown between1st to 30th April 2022, during that date the accused person told him that he is interested in one of his vehicle that is in custody of his son.
He told his son to sell it to the accused person at ten thousand United States dollars.
The accused person promised to pay within two months on two installments by paying five thousand dollars.
The accused person promised to pay in November and December 2022 which he didn’t pay.
Upon that, he instructed his brother in-law to make a report to the Criminal Investigations Department.
The witness said the accused person was arrested by the police officer at the Criminal Investigations Department and he promised them that he will pay the money on December 2022 and January 2023. Since then, he didn’t got any information from the accused person.
Upon that, he travelled to Freetown where he went to the Criminal Investigations Department and he made statement, the witness said on his presence the accused person told him that he sold the vehicle and used it for his own personal issue.
Cross examination By defense counsel E. Musa the accused person to pay the sum by the end of January 2023 the witness said yes but the accused person failed to pay the Money, would I be correct to say we are still in January 2023. The witness said yes.
The witness said, this was the first transaction you entered with the accused person the witness said yes, before the transaction of the vehicle have you ever been in a transaction before the witness said yes, did the accused person failed during that period the witness said No, as he concluded.
Counsel representing the accused person renewed his previous Bail application on behalf of the accused person.
Meanwhile Magistrate Ngegba granted the accused person bail in the sum of Fifty thousand new Leones with two sureties in like sum one surety to produce electricity bill.
Bail to be approved by the Deputy assistant Registrar Matter adjourned to the 31st January 2023 for further hearing.