By: Audrey Raymonda John
Thirty-one-year-old student Sahr George Kabba made another appearance before Magistrate Mustapha Brima Jah of Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown on a charge of Obtaining Money by False Pretences, contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the charge sheet, the accused, on diverse dates between Sunday, 1st September 2024, and Friday, 28th February 2025, in Freetown, obtained the sum of One Hundred and Forty-Four Million Old Leones (Le144,000,000) from Edward Koroma and Salamatu Koroma by falsely pretending that he would secure New Zealand visas and facilitate the travel of their sons to that country knowing the claim to be false.
Sergeant 9939 Mohamed Lahai led Prosecution Witness No. 2, Detective Police Sergeant 4017 Salifu Mansaray, attached to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU). Sergeant Mansaray recognized the defendant in the dock and recalled that on 18th March 2025, while on duty with Detective Inspector A.S. Mansaray, the complainant and his team arrested and brought in the accused in connection with the alleged offence.
He testified that during the investigation, the complainant handed over areceipt, which was produced and tendered in court for identification as Exhibit A1–8, along with other relevant documents such as an E-Visa and *WhatsApp conversations, tendered as Exhibit C1–2.
Sergeant Mansaray further stated that between 19th and 25th March 2025, he and his team obtained a voluntary caution statement from the accused. He said the accused was cautioned and questioned in Krio, while the statement was recorded in English. The statement was read and explained to the accused in Krio by Detective Inspector A.S. Mansaray, after which the accused admitted it to be true and correct by appending his right-hand thumbprint. The said statement remains in police custody.
Considering the gravity of the offence, Magistrate Jah ordered that the defendant, Sahr George Kabba, be remanded at the Male Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to 4th November 2025.