By: Audrey Raymonda John
Twenty-four-year-old Isata Favour Benya, a travel agent working with Findlay Travel Sierra Leone Limited, made her first appearance before Magistrate Augustine Brima Samura at the Pademba Road Court No. 8 in Freetown. She faces six criminal charges, including conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, between January 1 and May 14, 2025, at No. 1 Alcock Street, Western Area, Freetown, Benya and other persons unknown allegedly conspired to commit fraud by obtaining money from victims under false pretences.
Details of the Charges: Count 2: On the same date and location, Benya allegedly obtained $1,300 (equivalent to Le36,540) from Zainab Bangura by falsely claiming she would provide her an airline ticket to China via Ethiopian Airlines.
Count 3: She allegedly obtained $1,510 (also valued at Le36,540) from Isha Conteh under the same pretense.
Count 4: Benya is accused of defrauding Mary Lynch of $1,496 (Le36,000) with the promise of securing a flight ticket to China.
Count 5: Isata Sesay was allegedly defrauded of $1,585 (Le38,200) in a similar fashion.
Count 6: Sheka Hamza Bangura is reported to have lost $1,400 (Le33,600) to the accused under the same pretense.
When the charges were read and explained in court, no plea was taken from the accused.
Detective Police Constable 14898 Joseph Lamin Dumbuya led the prosecution, calling Zainab Bangura, a businesswoman and the first prosecution witness, to testify. Bangura stated that she was introduced to the accused by her sister, Bintu, and later contacted Benya to assist with flight arrangements to China.
Bangura testified that she initially paid \$500 for ticket processing and later referred seven of her friends to the accused, each of whom paid the same amount, bringing the total to $4,000. She said that Benya failed to provide receipts and became unreachable shortly after receiving the funds.
Eventually, Bangura managed to contact Benya, who claimed she was occupied with her wedding. Despite repeated requests, no tickets were issued until the day of their planned travel to Lungi Airport. A man delivered seven tickets late in the evening, with assurances that the remaining four would follow.
When the group arrived at Lungi Airport, they were informed that their names were not in the airline’s system and that the tickets were fake. Bangura said she was devastated and that her friends blamed her for the incident. She attempted to reach Benya again, but her calls went unanswered and her phone was switched off. Bangura then reported the matter to the Eastern Police Division and gave a formal statement. The money was never refunded.
During cross-examination by defense counsel C. Kamara Esq., the lawyer renewed a previous bail application on behalf of the accused. However, Magistrate Samura denied bail, citing the seriousness of the charges. He ordered that Benya be remanded at the Female Correctional Facility in Freetown.
The matter was adjourned to July 2, 2025, for further hearings.