Edward Abdul Lansana, a driver, had made his first appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road court No.1 in Freetown on a count charge of fraudulent conversion contrary to Section 20 (1) (iv) (a) of the larceny Act 1916.

According to the particulars of offence on diverse dates between 1st January 2022 to 31st December 2024 at Soja Town Grafton in Freetown for fraudulently converted to his own use or benefit certain property that is to say one Gold colour Toyota highlander vehicle, one white Toyota Camry vehicle, one standing Air conditioner, one yellow power sow and other assorted items equivalent to the total value of four hundred and eleven thousand one hundred Leones(411,100) entrusted to him by Edward Blackie for sale.

When the charge was read and explained to the accused person no plea was taken.

Sergeant 9939 Mohamed Lahai was the lead Prosecution witness number one and

Edward Paul Blackie who is a prison officer in the United States of America said he recognized the accused person as his nephew.

He said that he recalled on the above date when he was in the United States when he bought  a Toyota High lander and shipped it to the accused person who resides at his house at Soldier Town.

The accused person collected the vehicle and licenses it in his name and he came the same year and he was using the said vehicle then.

When he returned he left the vehicle with the accused.

Within march he sent Toyota Camry 2010 to the accused person and he told him to secure the vehicle till he returned. The witness said he shipped along the Air conditioner.

The accused told him that he needed a Power Saw which he brought for him and other items which all he brought the sum total of four hundred and eleven thousand, one hundred Leones.

Since then he couldn’t get to the accused person and upon that he called his first son Blackie to stay at the house.

When the accused person left the house, he instructed him to change all the lockers on the doors of which he did as was told.

The witness said he traveled to Sierra Leone to know what had happened and when he arrived all the above items were not in his compound.

So he called his sister and mother of the accused person to know the whereabout of the accused.

He also went to the Bo police station and made a report.

The accused was later arrested on warrant while the matter was transferred to Freetown at Grafton and Ross Road Police station.

He later made statement to the police.

Magistrate Kekura refused bail and sent the accused person to the male correctional facility in Freetown matter adjourned to the 19th May 2025.