Man Appears in Court for Alleged $92,000 Visa Fraud

Andrew Danny Stephanus Lahia appeared before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 on Monday, August 11, 2025, facing grave charges related to a $92,000 visa fraud scheme.

Lahia is accused of multiple offenses, including conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretenses, forgery, and uttering a forged document, all falling under various sections of the Forgery Act of 1913.

According to police records, the alleged fraudulent activities transpired between April 4 and April 20, 2025, at Satish Drive, Juba, Freetown. Lahia is suspected of colluding with unidentified individuals to defraud the complainant, Isata Koroma.

It is alleged that on April 4, Lahia received $21,000 (approximately Le 504,000) from Koroma, promising to secure an American visa for her relatives' travel to the United States. Further allegations state that on April 20, he obtained an additional $71,000 (about Le 1,704,000) from her under similar false pretenses, despite knowing his claims were deceptive.

The charges also include allegations that on May 30, Lahia forged and presented a U.S. visa with control number 20251847360005 in the name of Esther Bintu Samba, falsely asserting its issuance by the U.S. Embassy.

During the court proceedings, Lahia did not enter a plea.

Alfred Inga Bangura, an IT specialist and the complainant’s brother, testified, confirming his acquaintance with both Koroma and Lahia. He recounted that on April 4 and 20, 2025, Koroma dispatched money to a man named Simbo for delivery to Lahia.

Bangura stated that he personally witnessed Simbo hand over more than $21,000 to Lahia on Campbell Street. As evidence, he produced a signed receipt, drafted by himself and co-signed by Lahia, and presented a photograph of the document.

The prosecution requested a brief adjournment, while defense counsel AR Blah applied for bail. However, Magistrate Fornah denied the bail application and adjourned the case to August 15, 2025, for further proceedings.