ASP Samuel Saio, a police officer, was over the weekend discharged of the crime of fraudulent conversion.
He had been arraigned before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Court No.1 in Freetown for Fraudulent Conversion contrary to section 20 (1) (iv) (a) of the Larceny Act 1916.
The police are saying that Saio on Thursday 23rd July 2020 at the Headquarter of the Sierra Leone Police at George Street in Freetown dishonestly converted to his own use the sum $160,000 Equivalent to Le 1,700,000,000 entrusted to him temporarily by Assistant Inspector General of Police Mohamed Abu Brima Jah for the purpose of onward delivery.
During the Preliminary Investigations the prosecution led two witnesses, including Abu Brima Jah, who explained that he delivered the money to the accused.
The accused person Samuel Saio Kargbo made twenty appearances in court, and on the 15th December 2021, Magistrate Sahr Kekura informed the prosecution that on the next adjournment date if they didn’t lead any witness in evidence he would use section 94 of the Criminal Procedure Act No.32 of 1965.
Shortly after the matter was mentioned on Friday 14th January 2021 counsel representing the accused M.N. Kamara, I. A. Kamara and F.R. Conteh applied for the matter to be discharged.
Without wasting time, Principal Magistrate Sahr Kekura discharged the matter for wanting of prosecution.
ASP Samuel Saio Kargbo walked out of the court with tears running down his eyes.
By Alimatu Jalloh