By Janet A. Sesay
Magistrate Mustapha Brima Jah, the Principal Magistrate of the Freetown Magistrate Court No.1, has on Wednesday, 4th February 2026, sentenced Abdulai Leigh, a driver, to one year imprisonment after being found guilty of a fraud offense levied against him.
The convict was arraigned before the court on a count charge of obtaining money by false pretenses, contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
Leigh was convicted for fraudulently obtaining the sum of Le 18,800 from one Lamin Kenko Kamara after falsely claiming that he had a TVS Star motorcycle, bearing registration number AYS 148, for sale.
According to the particulars of offence, the incident occurred between 1st and 3rd October, 2025 at Pipeline, Gloucester Village, in the Mountain Rural District, Freetown. The court heard that Leigh knowingly made the false representation with intent to defraud the complainant.
When the charge was read and explained to him, the accused pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by Inspector Mabel M. Tarawally, Esq. called witnesses and presented evidence before the court, after which the matter was adjourned for ruling.
In delivering his judgment, Magistrate Jah stated that he has considered the facts of the case and the prosecution has proven their case beyond reasonable doubt.
He noted that such criminal conduct must not be tolerated within the Freetown jurisdiction and Sierra Leone as a whole.
The court therefore imposed a custodial sentence of one year imprisonment on Abdulai Leigh.