Isata Favour Benya, 24, a travel Agent at Findlay Travel Sierra Leone Limited made her first appearance before Magistrate Augustine Brima Samura of Pademba Road Court No.8 in Freetown on six count charges to wit conspiracy to commit a crime contrary to law, and five count ranging from obtaining money by false pretence contrary to section 32 (1) of the larceny Act 1916.

According to the particulars of offence, on a date between 1st January and 14th May, 2025 at #1 Alcock Street in the western area of Freetown, she conspired together with other persons unknown to commit a crime, to wit obtaining money by false pretence.

Count two further stated that on the same date and place the accused with intent to defraud obtained from Zainab Bangura the sum of one thousand, three hundred United States dollars equivalent to thirty six thousand five hundred and forty Leones (36,540) by falsely pretending that she would provide her an air ticket to travel to China through Ethiopia Airlines knowing same to be false

In count three, the accused on the same date and place with intent to defraud obtained from Isha Conteh the sum of one thousand five hundred and ten United States dollars equivalent to thirty six thousand five hundred and forty Leones (36,540) by falsely pretending that she would provide her an air ticket to travel to China through Ethiopia Airline knowing same to be false

Count four further stated that on the same date and place the accused with intent to defraud obtained from Mary Lynch the sum of one thousand four hundred and ninety six United States dollars equivalent to thirty six thousand Leones (36,000) by falsely pretending that she would provide her an air ticket to travel to China through Ethiopia Airline knowing same to be false.

Count five further stated that on the same date and place the accused person with intent to defraud obtained from Isata Sesay the sum of one thousand five hundred and eighty five United States dollars equivalent to thirty eight thousand and two hundred Leones (38,200) by falsely pretending that she would provide her an air ticket to travel to China through Ethiopia Airline knowing same to be false

Count six further revealed that on the same date and place the accused person with intent to defraud obtained from Sheka Hamza Bangura the sum of one thousand four hundred United States dollars equivalent to thirty three thousand six hundred Leones (33,600) by falsely pretending that she would provide him an air ticket to travel to China through Ethiopia Airline knowing same to be false.

No plea taken when the charges were read and explained to the accused.

The prosecutor Detective Police Constable 14898 Joseph Lamin Dumbuya led Prosecution witness number one Zainab Bangura a businesswoman she recognized the accused person and she came to know the accused person through her sister. She recalled on diverse dates between 1st and 14th May 2025, on the above date after her sister Bintu had introduced the accused to her. She said she called the accused and told her that she needed a flight ticket to China. The witness said the accused asked her for an initial sum of five hundred United States dollars to process the document. She said the accused told her that she have booked a ticket for her and her friend.

The witness said she then called the accused person and told her that seven of her friends needed tickets and they give her five hundred United States dollars each including his own money which sum out to four thousand United States dollars. The witness said she started calling the accused person but she couldn’t pick up her calls and the accused person didn’t issued any receipts to her she eventually got the accused person on phone.