A businessman, Amadu Komba made his first appearance at the Magistrate Court No.6 in Freetown before Magistrate Peter Brima Gogra on a private criminal sermon on two count charges of fraudulent conversion contrary to section 20 (1)(4)(a) of the Larceny Act of 1916.

The particulars of the offense stated that the accused in November 2022 at SS Camp Regent in Freetown fraudulently converted to his own use properties of the compliant the sum of ten million leones which was entrusted to him by the compliant (Fatmata Turay) to retain in safe keeping.

According to count two, the accused at the same place and date fraudulently converted to his own use thee sum of seven million Leones property of the complainant.

The accused pleaded not guilty after the charges were read and explained to him.

Fatmata Turay witness number one was questioned by Lead prosecution witness Julian F. During, the witness Fatmata Turay said she recognized the accused as her husband, adding that on the above date and place she handed over the sum of ten million Leones to the accused to open an account for her in the presence of one Fredrica.

She continued that she deal with charcoal and handed over the sum of seven million Leones to the accused for safekeeping because she was expecting a supply of charcoal.

She furthered that upon the arrival of her supply, she requested her money from the accused but to her dismay, the accused told her he do not have money for her which she said is a total of seventeen million Leones.

The witness was further cross-examined by C. Kamara Esq representing the accused and later applied for bail on behalf of his client which was granted by the Magistrate.

According to the bail request, C. Kamara Esq stated that the accused is a Sierra Leonean and has reliable sureties who are ready and willing to go into recognition on behalf of his client.

The bail application was made under section 793 of the criminal procedure Act No.32 of 1965.

Magistrate Gogra granted the accused person bail for thirty million Leones with two sureties in like sum sureties to be resident in the western area. Sureties to produce valid national passports for identification both sureties to be employed in a government institution. One surety to be fifty years old and above, Bail to be approved by the Bench matter adjourned to the 21st March 2023 for further hearing.