By: Audrey Raymonda John
Forty-six-year-old technician, Alpha Sorbah, has been sentenced to 24 months imprisonment by Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 on a charge of obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, on 5 December 2022, at No. 24 Pademba Road in the Western Area of Freetown, the accused, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of thirty-seven thousand Leones (Le 37,000) from Victoria Kebbie by falsely pretending that he had a plot of land available for sale, knowing the claim to be false.
When the charge was read and explained to the defendant, he pleaded guilty.
The prosecutor, Sergeant 8811 Florence Wilson, informed the court that the facts were as charged and stated that the defendant had no previous criminal record, describing him as a first-time offender.
The defendant, who was not legally represented, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.
In delivering his ruling, Magistrate Fornah stated that he had considered the prosecution’s submission that the defendant was a first-time offender, as well as the defendant’s plea for mercy. He also considered the amount of money fraudulently obtained from the complainant.
The Magistrate subsequently sentenced Alpha Sorbah to serve 24 months imprisonment, with the sentence to be served in full unless he refunds the sum of Le 37,000 to the complainant.