By Mamajah Jalloh
The ongoing highly alleged fraud case of Andrew Danny Stephanus Lahia a thirty- eight years old businessman was again arraigned before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 on Monday, 11th August, 2025, on five count charges of Conspiracy to Defraud, Obtaining Money by False Pretences, Forgery contrary to Section 4(1) of the Forgery Act 1913, and Uttering a Forged Document contrary to Section 6 (1) (2) of the same Act.
According to the particulars of offence that you on between Friday 4th April 2025 and Sunday 20th April 2025, at Satish Drive, Juba, Freetown, Lahia conspired with unknown persons to defraud complainant Isata Koroma.
Count two revealed that you on 4th April 2025, he obtained Twenty-One Thousand United States Dollars ($21,000), equivalent to Five Hundred and Four Thousand New Leones (NLe 504,000), from Koroma by falsely claiming he would secure an American Visa and facilitate the travel of her relatives to the United States, knowing the claim to be false.
Count three stated that you obtained Seventy-One Thousand United States Dollars ($71,000), equivalent to One Million Seven Hundred and Four Thousand New Leones (NLe 1,704,000), from Koroma on 20th April 2025 under similar false pretences.
Count four and five further stated that you on 30th May 2025, Lahia forged and uttered a United States Visa with control number 20251847360005 in the name of Esther Bintu Samba, purporting it to have been issued by the U.S. Embassy.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused person no plea was taken.
The state prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police Dallia Wellington led in prosecution witness number two Alfred Inga Bangura an Information Technology specialist recognized the complainant in this matter as his elder sister and the accused as a business partner.
Alfre recalled that on the 4th and 20th April 2025, Isata sent money to a man named Simbo to give to Lahia who allegedly handed over more than $21,000 to the accused at Campbell Street in his presence.
He went on to say that he personally drafted a receipt which both of them signed and took a snapshot of the said document that he wished to be tendered as evidence.
At that moment the Prosecutor ASP Willington requested a short adjournment.
Defense Counsel A R Blah applied for bail on behalf of the accused person.
Meanwhile, Magistrate refused because of the seriousness of the offence and sent the accused on remand to the male correctional center in freetown.
The matter was adjourned to the 15th of August, 2025, for the continuation of his trial..
