Magistrate Santigie Bangura of the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No.2 has remanded Cyril Wilson, a 38-year-old businessman.

Cyril Wilson, appeared before the court on charges of obtaining money by false pretenses, contrary to Section 321) of the Larceny Act of 1916.

The charge sheet alleged that the accused Cyril Wilson between December 18, 2023, and January 17, 2024, at No.21 Jamboria Street, Calaba Town in Freetown, fraudulently obtained 105,000 Leones from Samuel Hai, claiming to have ten town lots of land for sale at During Town, Waterloo an assertion the prosecution claims Wilson knew to be false.

According to the charge sheet, it was also alleged that Wilson collected payments in installments from Hai, who was acting on behalf of his sister, Yeabu.

Hai testified that he first paid 45,000 Leones to the accused in the presence of a relative and received a receipt, which was presented in court as Exhibit Z. Additional payments of 30,000 Leones was also made, with another receipt produced as Exhibit Y.

After surveying six plots, the sale fell apart when third parties claimed ownership of the remaining land, and Wilson disappeared. He was later apprehended at the Ministry of Lands.

The accused Cyril Wilson after hearing the charges, pleaded not guilty.

Defense counsel F. Kortu Esq. applied for bail, arguing that Wilson is a Sierra Leonean with reliable sureties, and would not interfere with witnesses.

However, Magistrate Bangura denied the application, citing Wilson as a flight risk. The matter was adjoined to September 24, 2024.