By Emma Black
Abdulia Okomi Kamara, a 54-year-old businessman, appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Court No. 2 on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, facing three counts of obtaining money by false pretences under Section 32 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the charge sheet, on Monday, December 4, 2023, at No. 79 Campbell Street, Freetown, in the Western Area of Sierra Leone, Kamara allegedly defrauded Alhaji Sanusy Bah of 70,000 New Leones (NLe 70,000) by falsely claiming he had six town lots of land for sale in Hastings, acting on behalf of Abdul Gadrie Kamara. The charges further state that on Friday, December 22, 2023, he obtained 100,000 New Leones (NLe 100,000) from Bah using the same pretext. A third incident on Sunday, January 14, 2024, involved Kamara allegedly securing 22,000 New Leones (NLe 22,000) under identical false pretenses. When the charges were read, Kamara pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conte, the state prosecutor, called the second witness, Mohamed Kamara, a solicitor’s clerk at Bah and Co. Solicitors. Mohamed confirmed he knew both the complainant, Alhaji Sanusy Bah, and the accused, having encountered Kamara at the chambers during a land transaction. He recalled witnessing the payment of 70,000 New Leones to Kamara on December 4, 2023, for which Kamara signed a receipt, which Mohamed also signed as a witness, I hereby identify the said receipt, marked Z, he testified, presenting it in court.
Mohamed further stated that on December 22, 2023, he witnessed another payment of 100,000 New Leones to Kamara, again signing as a witness, I hereby identify the said receipt as Exhibit B, he added, submitting it for the record. He confirmed making a statement to the police, concluding his testimony.
Defense counsel A.N.D. Mura applied for bail, arguing that Kamara is a Sierra Leonean citizen within the court’s jurisdiction and a family man, citing Section 79(2)(3)(11) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965, however, magistrate Bangura denied bail, citing the gravity of the offenses, and remanded Kamara in custody
The trial was adjourned to April 3, 2025, for continuation.