By: Alimatu Kargbo
In the Freetown Magistrate Court, Jaria Sow, a banker residing at 4C Off Kallon Drive, Aberdeen, testified in a case involving alleged fraud and fraudulent conversion amounting to $11,724. The accused, Finda Francess Mansaray of Malama Regent Road, faces two counts of obtaining money by false pretense and fraudulent conversion under the Larceny Act of 1916.
During her testimony, Jaria Sow recounted how her acquaintance with the accused was through her husband, Kamanda Mansaray, who had previously assisted in shipping goods from China to Sierra Leone.
According to the testimony, on November 1, 2023, Kamanda Mansaray proposed shipping 400 plastic chairs, 40 plastic tables, five carpet grass rolls, and two tents for a total cost of $8,500. The shipping fee was initially quoted as $3,140, bringing the total cost to $11,724. Jaria agreed to the deal, but later, the shipping cost was revised to $6,600. He explained that he paid $3,200 to the accused, Finda Francess Mansaray, on February 10, 2024, at her office, with a receipt issued and signed.
By February 20, 2024, Jaria claimed to have given the remaining shipping money to the accused, supported by a second receipt tendered as Exhibit A. Despite receiving the full amount, Finda allegedly failed to deliver the goods or provide an explanation.
Later, Jaria learned that the container carrying his goods had been demolished.
On March 4, 2024, Kamanda reached out again, requesting an additional $3,300 for customs clearance. Jaria refused, citing that he had not received his goods.
Following the lack of communication from the accused, Jaria reported the matter to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on March 10, 2024. The court has adjourned the case to February 24, 2025, for further hearing.
