Victim Recounts Harrowing Experience With Accused
By: Alimatu Kargbo
Lamin Darbor made another appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 2 in Freetown on nine counts of conspiracy to defraud contrary to law, and obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the indictment, on count one, the defendant, Lamin Darbor, on diverse dates between 14th May 2024 and 17th September 2025 at No. 19 Falcon Street, Freetown, allegedly conspired with other persons unknown to commit a crime, namely obtaining money by false pretences.
It was further alleged in counts two to nine that the defendant, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of Thirty-Nine Thousand Six Hundred and Fifteen Leones (Le39,615) from one Isha Titi Kamara by falsely pretending that he would facilitate her travel to Canada, knowing the representation to be false.
When the charges were read and explained to the defendant, no plea was taken.
Led in evidence by the Prosecution Witness – PW2, Isha Titi Kamara, recalled testifying in court and stated that she had previously blocked the phone number of one Sam, who she said was a friend of the defendant. She said the defendant later called her and informed her that she had no right to block Sam’s number because both of them were working together on her travel programme. She said the defendant instructed her to unblock Sam and continue communicating with him, which she did.
The witness further testified that Sam later called and requested that she send Seven Hundred United States Dollars (USD 700). She said she contacted the defendant to confirm whether she should send the money, and he advised her to do so. According to her, she later contacted Mohamed Seiba to enquire whether he was aware of the arrangement between the defendant and Sam. Mohamed allegedly told her to wait until he spoke with the defendant before sending the money.
She said Mohamed later called and provided her with a BNB number through which she sent the money.
Kamara further told the court that after the payment, both Sam and the defendant blocked her number. She said she then contacted Mohamed Seiba in desperation and requested a refund if the programme was no longer possible.
The witness said the defendant later contacted her through WhatsApp, introducing himself as “Darbir” concerning her Canada programme. According to her, the defendant assured her that he would give her one last chance and promised to refund her money if the visa was not secured.
She further testified that she later travelled to Guinea to complete biometric procedures and paid Fifty United States Dollars (USD 50), for which she was issued a receipt.
According to the witness, the defendant informed her that the next stage of the process was for her to receive an email instructing her to collect her passport and visa in Guinea.
Kamara said she later received an email directing her to Guinea. However, upon arrival, she was issued a letter written in French, which was translated into English and explained that she was not required to leave her passport because nobody had applied for any programme on her behalf. She said her passport was returned to her without any visa.
She told the court that she immediately contacted the defendant and explained what had happened, but he allegedly insulted her and blamed her for the situation.
The witness said the defendant later introduced an Australian visa programme to her, but she refused and demanded a refund of her money instead.
She maintained that the defendant neither refunded her money nor successfully processed the programme, and subsequently disappeared for over one year and six months before he was later located, arrested, and taken to Lumley Police Station, where the matter was reported and statements obtained.
Counsel representing the defendant cross-examined the witness in an attempt to prove the innocence of his client.
Responding to the evidence led in court, Magistrate John Manso Fornah stated that the matter is a serious one which requires proper judicial examination, adding that the prosecution should ensure the attendance of witnesses to enable the matter to proceed speedily.
The magistrate thereafter remanded the defendant at the Male Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to 25th May 2026.
