An immigration department employee, appeared yesterday before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Pademba Road Court No. 1, charged with defrauding Lawrence Julius Peters of Le 97,600 under the pretext of procuring two Sierra Leonean service passports.
Jabbie faces two counts: conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money by false pretences contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act 1916. Prosecutors allege that on 28 September 2024, at Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown, Jabbie and unnamed accomplices conspired to promise Peters service passport books for “Myra Marah” and “David Sam Yobondo,” knowing no such passports would be issued.
When the charges were read, Jabbie made no plea. Inspector Kadie M. Taylor, prosecuting, requested a short adjournment to finalise witness preparations. Defence counsel then applied for bail under Section 79(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act No. 32 of 1965, noting Jabbie’s Sierra Leonean residency and employment within the jurisdiction.
Magistrate Kekura granted bail at Le 200,000, with two sureties—one of whom must be a government employee—each providing valid Freetown address identification. The court remanded the case to 7 May 2025 for further hearing.
By Feima Sesay
