By Musa Paul Feika
Magistrate Hannah Bonnie of Pademba Road Magistrate Court No.1 on Wednesday remanded Jusu John for fraudulently converting a Sunny taxi car to his own use. The vehicle’s registration number is ANS 743, which is the property of Sahr Desmond Senesis.
Ome Kamara, a firsthand witness and who also doubles as the complainant, has told the court that he recognizes the accused as a driver and could recall sometimes 2019 at No 9B Jui, east of Freetown.
The witness continued that the vehicle was given to him by his boss for commercials purposes. He said, on day in question, he gave the said vehicle to the accused, urging him to bring it back in the evening at Funkia Junction in Goderich, Freetown.
The witness stated that, as scheduled by both of them, he went at the said junction. He said after he had spent several hours and could not see the accused, the following morning, he went to the Lumley Police Station and made a statement.
Mr. Kamara told the court that since then the accused had been on the run. The witness further informed the court that the accused was arrested by police officers. This is due to the instruction from the vehicle owner (Mr. Senesis) and detained at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters Freetown. He said he was later granted bail.
The witness said the accused was later arrested by his colleagues and brought to the CID headquarter. The witness said, while they were at CID headquarters and after several interrogations, the accused informed the policemen that he has the vehicle in Waterloo.
This, to him, prompted three police officers, himself (the complainant) and the accused go to Waterloo in search of the vehicle. He said upon their arrival, the witness said the vehicle was nowhere to be found.
The accused is before the court on one count charge of fraudulent conversion, which is contrary to section 20 (1) (a) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the police file sheet, Jusu John (alias Japan), sometimes in 2019 at No. 9B Jui Freetown, fraudulently converted to his own owe use a Sunny vehicle that was entrusted to him by Ome Kamara. The accused is still on bail and the matter was adjourned to the 14th June, 2019.