Bassieru Samura, a tiller, has been incarcerated at the Male Correctional Facility situated on Pademba Road in Freetown due to an allegation that he fraudulently converted a winning Mercury ticket entrusted to him for delivery for his own personal gain.
On his initial appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at the Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown, the accused, Samura, faced a singular charge of fraudulent conversion.
Court records indicate that on the 27th day of April 2024, on Big Waterloo Street in Freetown, the accused fraudulently appropriated for his own use and benefit certain property, namely two winning Mercury tickets, each valued at one thousand two hundred and twenty-two Leones (1,222), amounting to a total value of two thousand four hundred and forty Leones (2,444), which had been entrusted to him by Kadiru Kaindakarr Sesay for the purpose of delivery.
Upon the reading and explanation of the charges in court, the accused did not enter a plea due to the preliminary nature of the investigation.
Testifying under oath, the complainant, Kadiru Kaindakarr Sesay, a retailer at Mercury International, positively identified the accused as his roommate.
On the 27th day of April 2024, Sesay played 12 tickets for Daniel Vandy. After playing the said tickets, Sesay found Vandy asleep and decided to entrust Samura with the task of delivering them to Daniel, who would then deliver them to Vandy.
However, it was subsequently discovered that two of the tickets had won. When Sesay reminded Daniel of the winning tickets, he was informed that the accused had not given him all the tickets. It became apparent that the winning tickets were retained by the accused.
Upon realizing that the accused was unable to produce the tickets, Sesay reported the matter to the Central Police Station. According to Sesay, the total value of the tickets was two thousand four hundred and fifty-four Leones.
Despite the accused's failure to provide Sesay with either the money or the tickets, Sesay subsequently provided a statement to the police.
Cross-examination of the accused has not yet taken place in court.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Bangura has ordered the accused to be remanded in custody and has adjourned the case to the 25th day of July 2024.
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