By Audrey Raymonda John
Thirty-eight-years, old Mohamed Santigie Fofanah, aka, Pampo, a business man made his first appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Court No.1 in Freetown.
He stood on one count of obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to Section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of offence on a date unknown between 1st July 2022 to February 28th 2023 at No.1 Back Street in the Western Area in Freetown , the suspect was held for with intent to defraud, by obtaining the sum of seven hundred and sixteen thousand six hundred and sixty Leones(716,660) and one hundred and seventy eight thousand and fifteen United State dollars.
The money is equivalent to four million two hundred and seventy two thousand three hundred and sixty Leones (4,727,360).
It all cost a total sum of four million nine hundred and eighty nine thousand and twenty Leones (4,989,020) obtained from Lansana Kallay and David Samuel Thulley by falsely pretending that the suspect would facilitate the travel of seventy two people from Sierra Leone to Canada.
When the charge was read and explained to the accused person no plea was taken.
Counsel representing the accused person Cryus Luseni renewed his previous bail applications on behalf of the accused.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Kekura granted the accused bail with the sum of two million Leones with two sureties in like sum asked to produce the recent NCRA identity card before bail is approved by the Deputy Assistant Registrar.
The matter was adjourned to the 20th March, 2024 for further hearing