By Janet A. Sesay
Sajor Bah has been arraigned before Magistrate Mustapha Briama Jah at the Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown, on seven counts including conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretences, and fraudulent conversion, contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of offence, the accused allegedly conspired with persons unknown between 1st November 2024 and 30th January 2025 to obtain money by false pretences. Prosecutors further alleged that between 26th November 2024 and 31st January 2025, at Youyi Building in Freetown, Bah fraudulently obtained Ten Thousand United States Dollars (USD 10,000) equivalent to Le 242,950, plus an additional Le 150,000, amounting to a total of Le 392,950, from Umaru Napoleon Koroma.
The prosecution stated that the money was obtained under the false claim that the accused would construct a house for the complainant at Bathurst Village, knowing the claim to be untrue.
Testifying in court, Prosecution Witness Hassan Kargbo, a Police Sub-Inspector attached to the Anti-Fraud Unit at CID Headquarters, told the court that he recognized both the complainant and the accused. He recalled that on 3rd June 2025, the complainant reported the matter at CID Headquarters, where statements were obtained. At the time, the accused was not present, leading to the issuance of a bench warrant.
Kargbo further testified that on 3rd December, 2025 he and another CID officer arrested the accused based on the bench warrant, which was tendered as Exhibit A. On the 4th December 2025, a caution statement was obtained from the accused in Krio and recorded in English, later tendered as Exhibits B1–B22.
The witness informed the court that on 10th December 2025, CID officers visited three alleged crime scenes: Leicester Peak near Regent, Kambia, and Kabala. At each location, investigators reportedly found uncompleted three-bedroom structures allegedly started by the accused. Photographs and reports from the visits were tendered as Exhibits C1–C3. When questioned, the accused reportedly attributed the situation to misappropriation of funds.
Further evidence included a voluntary caution statement obtained on 12th December 2025, tendered as Exhibits D1–D6, and a charge statement dated 18th December 2025, marked as Exhibits E1–E2.
The witness also told the court that receipts of payments made by the complainant were submitted and tendered as Exhibits F1–F9.
At the close of the testimony, the accused was remanded in custody for ruling, and the matter was adjourned to 2nd February 2025.