By: Alimatu Kargbo
A businessman accused of defrauding a man of Le311,000 on the promise of securing a Canadian visa has returned to court, where the admissibility of a key video evidence became the centre of legal arguments.
Mohamed Nicol, 41, appeared before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 2 in Freetown on one count of obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
The prosecution alleges that between 1 January and 31 October 2025, Nicol obtained Le311,000 from complainant Victor Comer at No. 11 Alusine Street, Juba Hill, after allegedly claiming he would secure a Canadian visa and arrange the complainant’s travel to Canada, knowing the claim to be false.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the prosecution attempted to tender a video through its second witness, Mariatu Bangura. The witness had earlier testified that she recorded the accused counting money paid by herself and the complainant using her Redmi Android mobile phone.
However, defence counsel strongly objected to the admission of the video, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish the exact date it was recorded. Counsel further maintained that the footage should first be authenticated by an expert from the Sierra Leone Judiciary before it could be accepted as evidence.
The defence also argued that the faces of the witness and another individual appearing in the video were unclear, adding that the accused could not be properly identified from the footage.
In response, the prosecution requested more time to file a formal reply to the defence’s objections.
Magistrate John Manso Fornah granted the application and adjourned the matter to 21 July 2026 for further hearing
