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Eustace Harding, the son of Prince Harding, chairman of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) has made his initial appearance in Freetown Magistrate Court No. 1 before Magistrate Sahr Kekura, facing charges of conspiracy to defraud.
The allegations suggest that Harding, in collaboration with unidentified individuals, conspired to obtain over three hundred thousand Leone [SLE] from Tommy Massaquoi, promising repayment but failing to fulfill the agreement.
According to the charge sheet, Harding is arraigned on two counts: conspiracy to defraud contrary to law and obtaining credit under false pretenses. However, the defense counsel, M. Sheriff, objected, contending that the charges were improperly framed under the wrong law.
Sheriff objected before the charges were formally presented, asserting that his client was being brought to court under section 13[1] of the Larceny Act of 1916, which he argued was legally inaccurate. The defense lawyer argued that the correct charge should be under Section 13[a] of the same Act, and he subsequently applied for the dismissal of the case.
The prosecutor requested time to respond to the defense counsel’s objection, and the accused, Eustace Harding, was remanded in custody until the next adjourned date.
No one is above the law. Let the right thing be done even when no one is watching.
Love for Country #Mama Salone
That is what there father’s doing, is a continuation.
If he borrowed the money, which makes it a debt, he cannot be charged with a criminal offence; it would be a civil offence which the lender can take to a civil court to recover his money. Except maybe there’s something else which is not mentioned in the above report.
For edification purposes, note that Sierra Leone does not have a separate civil or criminal court.
They operate in the same court and the Magistrate decides which one is civil and which one is criminal. That is a civil matter anyway.
The fact remains, that it is a shame for him and his family to borrow such menial money and refuse to pay back with impunity hoping to ride on his father’s status.
Thank you mag. Kerura, keep the rule of law alive.
Isn’t this a civil offense case, in which the plaintiff initiates civil proceedings with a civil lawsuit against Mr. Harding to recover his money? Even the phrasing of the charges is confusing, to say the least.
The case is so feeble and less the attention given. I don’t think the Chairman aware of this.
I may not be a Lawyer ,if it is a debt and the debtor has refused to pay then it becomes a criminal matter, but where the suspect has started repaying and ceases in the process then it is a civil matter, that’s my take.
Harding Jr is a sierra leonean under the laws of Sierra Leone . If the chairman’s son can be arrested and detained who else should be spared? There are many others there with more serious crimes than Harding jr. Jr. will be judged accordingly like all others under detention.
” If Combra beat ihn yone pikin tae wound am how much more mate pikin?