Forty-two-years-old, Thomas Musa Turay, a business man has made another appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura.

He was held on seven different counts with the same offence the accused person was charged on C/S 1276/2024 on two count charges to wit Conspiracy to defraud contrary to law and Obtaining money by false pretences contrary to section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.

According to the particulars of offence, on various dates between 23rd January to 27th February 2024, with intent to defraud;  he conspired together and with other persons unknown to commit a crime to wit obtaining money by false pretenses.

Count two further states that on the 27th February 2024 at No.13 Liverpool Street the Western Area in Freetown with intent to defraud obtained the sum of eighty one thousand three hundred and fifty Leones(81,350,00) from Abass Kamara by falsely pretending that his company Canaan Land has TVS tricycle (Kekeh) for sale knowing same to be false.

When the charge was read and explained to the accused person, he pleaded not guilty.

Assistant Superintendent of police Isatu Baba Musa lead Prosecution witness number one a driver, he recognized the accused person in the dock. He recalls on various dates between 23rd January to 27th February 2024 of something that transferred between herself and the accused person. He saw the advertisement on different platforms that they are dealing tricycle he went to the office at Liverpool Street to enquire about their dealings; he was told at the office that I should pay thirty thousand Leones and within the week the tricycle will be supplied to him. The witness said the next day he came with the thirty thousand Leones and paid it to the office to one Fatmata she was the secretary to the company. He was issued with a receipt of payment which was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as exhibit A1; the witness further stated that after the was asked to produce a national identity card after  producing the national identity card he was also asked to produce electricity bill which he did. He was later asked to produce a guarantor so he went with one Mr Barrie to them as his guarantor the said they’re working towards his information the witness said the tricycle was handed over to him after two weeks. The witness further stated he was the secretary to him, and the accused person told him that he is the owner of the company. He asked the accused person to know how long it would take to supply a tricycle bought cash the accused person told him two days; he then went home and came with money to pay for tricycle and the witness said the accused person issued receipt and was issued the said receipt which was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as exhibit B. The accused person told him to come and collect the tricycle on the following day and he went there but he didn’t get the tricycle as planned; he was also asked to come on Friday. He didn’t see the accused person and he then called his father to inform him about what had transpired between the accused person and him and his father went to the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters along Pademba Road in Freetown.  The witness said the secretary was taken to the Criminal Investigations Department and the accused person came to the Criminal Investigations Department and promised to refund the money since they later got information that he was in custody at Central Police Station. He later made statement to the police station, and he witness was cross examined by E.L Bayoh.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Bangura refused bail and sent the accused person to the male correctional facility in Freetown and the matter was adjourned to 7th June 2024.