By Hassanatu I. Conteh
Amadu Komba, a businessman, made his first appearance before Magistrate Peter Brima Gogra of Pademba road court No.6 in Freetown, on a private criminal summons on two count charges ranging from fraudulent conversion contrary to Section 20 (1) (4) (a) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of offence, sometime in November 2022 at SS Camp Regent in the Western Area in Freetown, Amadu Komba fraudulently converted to his own use or benefit certain property that is to say ten million leones (NLe10,000) entrusted to him by Fatmata Turay for safe keeping.
Count 2 stated that at the same place and date the accused person fraudulently converted to his own use or benefit certain property that is to say seven million leones (NLe7,000) received by him for and on account of the said complainant.
The charges were read and explained to the accused person and he pleaded not guilty. Lead prosecution witness number one Fatmata Turay, a business woman, stated that she recognised the accused as her husband.
She recalled the above date and that there was a transfer between herself and the accused where she handed over ten million leones (NLe10,000) to the accused to open an account for her in the presence of one Frederica.
The witness continued that she is in the charcoal business and handed over seven million leones to the accused person for him to keep because she was expecting some supply of coal.
The witness stated that on the day of the supply she asked the accused to provide the money, which he failed to do, stating that he didn’t have any money for her.
Defence Counsel C. Kamara applied for bail for and on behalf of the accused person indicating that he is a Sierra Leonean, and the he lives in Freetown.
The accused has reliable sureties who are willing and ready to enter his cognisance. He stated that the accused will not interfere with prosecution witnesses, making his application pursuant to section 79 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Act No.32 of 1965.
Magistrate Gogra granted the accused NLe30,000 bail with two sureties who should be resident in Freetown with valid national passports for identification.
Both sureties, he went on, must be employed in a government institution, with one surety being fifty years old and above. Bail is to be approved by the Bench. The matter was adjourned to 21 March 2023 for further hearing.