By: Audrey Raymonda John
Two businessmen, Abdul Jabba Mansaray and Joseph Bellon, have made another appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on multiple charges, including conspiracy, larceny, obtaining money by false pretences, and receiving stolen goods, contrary to the Larceny Act of 1916.
The charges include conspiracy to commit a crime, larceny contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act 1916, obtaining money by false pretences contrary to Section 32(1), and receiving stolen goods contrary to Section 33(1) of the same Act.
According to the charge sheet, the first defendant, Abdul Jabba Mansaray, on 13 January 2026 at No. 3 Bathurst Street, Freetown, allegedly conspired with unknown persons to commit larceny.
It is further alleged that on the same date and place, Mansaray stole one Vivid IQ Echo Machine valued at $37,100, property belonging to Professor Dr. James Russell.
The prosecution also alleges that on 28 and 29 January 2026, Mansaray, with intent to defraud, obtained Le2,500 from Fatmata Jullet Nicolls and Le1,015 from George Russell through Orange Money, under the false pretext that the funds were needed for transport to recover the stolen machine.
The fifth count states that the second defendant, Joseph Bellon, between 13 and 28 January 2026 at Kossoh Town, Freetown, allegedly received the Vivid IQ Echo Machine, knowing it to be stolen property belonging to Dr. James Russell.
Testifying as Prosecution Witness One (PW1), Fatmata Jullet Nicolls, a nurse attached to Prime Care Medical Clinic, told the court that she knew both the complainant and the defendants.
She explained that the machine used for scanning patients’ hearts, was last seen in use on 13 January 2026 before the complainant left the clinic. Later, she received a call from her boss reporting that the machine was missing.
She stated that they initially advised the complainant to publicise the missing equipment on social media, which he later did on 28 January 2026.
PW1 further testified that Dr. Russell later provided her with a telephone number belonging to a person who claimed to have found the machine and said he purchased it on the street.
She said she contacted the number, and the individual confirmed possession of the machine and claimed to be attending a workshop in Kono District. The caller also sent photographs of the machine, which were printed and tendered in court as Exhibit A1–A26.
According to her testimony, the caller later requested transport fare to travel to Kenema to take additional photographs. She said she sent Le1,000 via mobile money, which the caller confirmed receiving, and later sent another image of the machine with its bag.
Defence counsel A.B. Sesay applied for bail on behalf of both defendants, arguing that they are Sierra Leoneans with reliable sureties and would not interfere with prosecution witnesses if granted bail.
However, Magistrate John Manso Fornah refused bail, citing the seriousness of the offences. The matter was adjourned to 28 April 2026 for continuation of hearing.