By: Audrey Raymonda John
Abdul Conteh made his first appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No. 2 on one count of obtaining money by false pretenses, contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, on December 19, 2024, at Bottom Mango, Wilberforce, in the Western Area of Freetown, Conteh obtained a blue Star TVS motorbike valued at 24,250 Leones from Musa Kamara by falsely pretending that it would be used for commercial purposes and that payments would be made to the complainant.
When the charge was read and explained to the accused, he pleaded guilty.
Conteh was not legally represented in court. Prosecuting counsel, J. Gerber, stated that the accused had no previous convictions and that they were in negotiations for him to pay for the motorbike.
Magistrate Bangura, in delivering the judgment, noted that the accused was a first-time offender and had not wasted the court’s time. The defense counsel agreed that he should pay for the motorbike. As a result, the magistrate sentenced him to pay a fine of 500 Leones or serve three years in prison. He also ordered that the motorbike be paid for immediately.
