By Emma Black

Mohamed Turay, a 32-year-old businessman, faced Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Pademba Road Court No. 1 on Tuesday, charged with fraudulent conversion under Section 20(1)(iv)(a) of the Larceny Act 1916. The accusation: pocketing the proceeds from phones he was meant to sell.

Court records allege that on November 9, 2024, at 12 Johnson Lane, Aberdeen, in Freetown’s Western Area, Turay swindled Kassim Kargbo. Entrusted with two Samsung Galaxy Edge phones worth 14,640 Leones and an iPhone 13 Pro Max valued at 16,000 Leones a total of 30,640 Leones Turay is said to have sold the devices and kept the cash for himself instead of fulfilling the sales agreement.

When the charge was read, Turay stood silent; no plea was entered. Prosecutor Sergeant 8975 Bangura I.S. requested a brief adjournment, citing the absence of a key witness. Magistrate Kekura, unmoved, denied bail and remanded Turay to the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown. The case is slated to resume on April 10, 2025.

Turay’s first court appearance marks a steep fall for the businessman, now locked in a legal tangle over goods meant to turn a profit, not a prison stint. As the investigation unfolds, questions linger about trust, intent, and the true value of the deal gone sour.