By: Audrey Raymonda John
Two men, Yankuba Koroma, 27, and Michael Musa, 64, have been remanded at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown by Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 over allegations of conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money by false pretences in connection with the purported sale of a white AMG Coupé vehicle in Guinea.
The defendants are facing two counts: conspiracy to defraud, contrary to law, and obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of offence, between 7 March and 16 April 2026, in the Western Area of Freetown, the defendants allegedly conspired with other persons unknown to defraud Mohamed Koroma by falsely representing that they had a white AMG Coupé vehicle in Conakry, Guinea, for sale, knowing the representation to be false.
Count two alleges that on 16 April 2026, at Joshua Street, off Bai Bureh Road, Wellington, in the Western Area of Freetown, the defendants obtained US$10,700 from Mohamed Koroma by falsely claiming that they had the said vehicle available for sale in Conakry, Guinea.
When the charges were read and explained to the defendants, no plea was taken because the matter is before the court for committal proceedings.
The prosecution, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh, called its third witness, Mohamed Bangura, a kekeh rider, who testified that he knew both defendants and the complainant, who was his customer.
Bangura told the court that on 16 April 2026, the complainant hired him to transport him to Joshua Street, Wellington, near a place known as PMB. Upon their arrival, the complainant made a telephone call, after which the second defendant came to pick them up and took them to a building he described as their house.
At the building, they met the first defendant, who introduced himself to the complainant. According to the witness, the complainant expressed doubts about the profile picture of the first defendant, prompting the second defendant to confirm that the picture on the profile belonged to his son.
The witness further testified that the second defendant asked the complainant about the type and colour of vehicle he wanted, explaining that the vehicles were in Guinea. The complainant then showed them the model of the vehicle he intended to purchase.
Bangura said the second defendant subsequently prepared an agreement after the complainant had paid US$10,000. The witness stated that he signed the agreement as a witness. He further told the court that the second defendant counted the money and indicated that US$700 was outstanding, which the complainant later added to complete the US$10,700 payment.
According to the witness, the defendants assured the complainant that he would receive the vehicle without fail. The second defendant later dropped them off, and Bangura subsequently made a statement to the police.
Magistrate Fornah refused bail, citing the seriousness of the offences charged, and remanded both defendants at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown.
The matter was adjourned to 30 October 2026 for further proceedings.