Entrepreneur Remanded in Residential Lease Fraud Case

Entrepreneur Remanded in Residential Lease Fraud Case

Ms. Umu Kutume Sauaqe, a 43-year-old entrepreneur, has been remanded to the Pademba Road Female Correctional Facility following her arraignment before the Freetown Magistrate Court. The defendant faces allegations of orchestrating a residential lease fraud targeting an employee of Vista Bank.

The defendant has been formally charged with obtaining money by false pretenses, a felony offense under Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.

The prosecution alleges that on April 15, 2025, at No. 2 Charlotte Street, Freetown, Ms. Sauaqe willfully defrauded Mr. Samuel Sellu of twenty-eight thousand five hundred Leones (Le28,500). It is contended that the defendant secured these funds by falsely representing the availability of a four-bedroom residential property for lease.

Upon the formal reading of the indictment, the defendant entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.

The prosecution, led by Sergeant Theresa Ballay, called the complainant, Mr. Samuel Sellu, to provide testimonial evidence. Mr. Sellu, a banking professional at Vista Bank, testified that his brother, James, initially identified the purported rental opportunity on April 10, 2025.

According to the witness’s testimony, a site visit was conducted where the brothers met with the defendant and her associates. Following negotiations, the parties reportedly reached an agreement for an eighteen-month lease term totaling Le28,500.

The complainant further detailed the transaction process, stating that on April 15, 2025, the defendant accompanied him to the Vista Bank premises to receive payment. The transaction was reportedly witnessed by bank colleagues and documented via a formal receipt, which has been entered into evidence by the court.

Subsequent to the payment, Mr. Sellu alleged that the defendant failed to provide a valid receipt containing the property’s specific address. Upon attempting to secure possession of the premises on April 19, 2025, the complainant discovered that the defendant and her family had vacated the area and could not be located.

Following the initial testimony, the prosecution moved for a brief adjournment to prepare further evidence.

Presiding Magistrate John Manso Fornah denied the defendant’s application for bail, ordering her continued detention at the Freetown female correctional facility.

The matter has been scheduled for a follow-up hearing on April 1, 2026.