By: Audrey Raymonda John
Forty-three-year-old businesswoman Umu Kutume Sauaqe has been remanded to Pademba Road Prison over allegations of rent fraud involving a staff member of Vista Bank. The defendant is standing trial on a charge of obtaining money by false pretenses, contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of the offense, on 15th April 2025 at #2 Charlotte Street, Western Area, Freetown, Sauaqe allegedly obtained the sum of twenty-eight thousand five hundred Leones (Le 28,500) from Samuel Sellu by falsely claiming that she had a four-bedroom apartment with a parlour for rent, knowing this to be untrue.
When the charge was read to the defendant in court, she pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Sergeant 3379 Theresa Ballay, led the first prosecution witness, Samuel Sellu, a banker at Vista Bank. Sellu recognized the defendant and recounted the events leading to the alleged fraud.
According to Sellu, on 10th April 2025, a man named Jame was looking for a place to rent. Jame informed Sellu that a four-bedroom apartment was available at the location where he had previously rented. Sellu, accompanied by Jame, visited the property and met the defendant, her husband, and her daughter. The defendant showed them the apartment, and they negotiated a rent of nineteen thousand Leones (Le 19,000) for one year.
However, the defendant requested two years’ rent. Sellu agreed to pay only one year and six months, totaling Le 28,500, to which she consented. On 15th April 2025, the defendant, accompanied by a man identified as Abdulrahman Sauaqe, allegedly her husband’s younger brother, went with Sellu to Vista Bank. There, Sellu informed his colleagues about the payment, and a receipt was prepared and signed by both the defendant and witnesses. The receipt was later tendered in court as part of the official record.
On 19th April 2025, the defendant issued another receipt for the payment but failed to include the apartment’s address. She reportedly promised to provide a detailed receipt later. Sellu, intending to occupy the apartment, discovered that the defendant and her family were nowhere to be found.
Following the testimony, the prosecution requested a short adjournment. Meanwhile, Magistrate Fornah denied bail and remanded the defendant to the Female Correctional Facility in Freetown. The case has been adjourned to 1st April 2026.