By: Audrey Raymonda John
A 27-year-old businessman, Andrew Kai O’John, has been remanded at the Male Correctional Centre after appearing before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No. 2 on a charge of fraudulent conversion, contrary to Section 20(1)(iv)(a) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
The prosecution alleges that in June 2024, at Walpole Street in Freetown, O’John fraudulently converted to his own use a red Mercury machine with serial number 4827, valued at Le27,500. The machine had been entrusted to him by Mohamed Kappia for commercial purposes.
No plea was taken when the charge was read to the accused. Assistant Superintendent of Police Isatu Baba Musa, prosecuting, requested a short adjournment to allow her to confer with her witness.
The accused was not legally represented at the time of his appearance. Given the nature of the offence, Magistrate Bangura denied bail and ordered O’John’s remand. The matter was adjourned to March 4, 2025, for further proceedings.
