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Andrew Danny Stephanus Lahai appeared before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on Monday, 20 October 2025, to answer to one count of obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
Lahai is accused of obtaining a total sum of USD 43,050 from Victoria I. J. Johnson by falsely claiming that he could secure Canadian visas and facilitate travel for her family between 21 August 2022 and 31 March 2024. When the charge was read and explained to him, the accused did not enter a plea.
Led in evidence by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh, the complainant, Victoria I. J. Johnson, an accountant at the University of Sierra Leone, testified that she was introduced to Lahai by a man named Martin, who also took her husband, Ishmeal Koroma, to meet the accused regarding a purported Canadian visa program that appeared legitimate.
She told the court that her husband negotiated a partial payment of Le45,000 for six visas, for which Lahai issued a receipt. Johnson said she was handed six passports but later received email confirmations for only five visas, with the visa dates later found to be invalid.
Documents relating to the transaction, along with the passports, were tendered in evidence as Exhibits A1 to A6. The witness further stated that the accused received USD 43,050 in addition to the passports and that, despite several attempts, she was unable to recover either the passports or a refund, prompting her to report the matter to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters on Pademba Road, where she made a formal statement.
During cross-examination, Defence Counsel C.M.B. Amara Esq. renewed an earlier bail application, but Magistrate Fornah refused bail, citing the seriousness of the alleged offence. Lahai was remanded in custody pending further proceedings.
The matter was adjourned to 28 October 2025.
