Two Amnet Filling Station Employees Committed to High Court Over Le473,800 Embezzlement

Two employees of Amnet Filling Station in Makeni have been committed to the High Court for trial over allegations of conspiracy to defraud and embezzlement involving Le473,800.

The accused, twenty-six-year-old Noah Aleem Bun Kamara, an assistant manager, and forty-seven-year-old Joe Menfallah, the station manager, made their appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on two counts of conspiracy to defraud contrary to law and embezzlement contrary to Section 17(1)(b) of the Larceny Act of 1916.

According to the particulars of the offence, between Thursday, May 1, 2025, and Friday, February 20, 2026, at Amnet Filling Station in Makeni, Bombali District, Northern Province, the accused allegedly conspired with other persons unknown to defraud the station.

The prosecution further alleged that the two fraudulently embezzled Le473,800, being money received from customers on behalf of the filling station.

When the charges were read and explained to the accused, no plea was taken, as the matter was before the court for committal proceedings.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh, prosecuting the matter, informed the court that the evidence presented was for committal consideration.

Counsel representing the accused, F.A. Kamara, applied for the court to adopt his previous bail application.

He submitted that both accused are family men with children and that continued detention would impose serious hardship on their families. He therefore appealed to the court to exercise its discretion and grant bail.

In his ruling, Magistrate Fornah said he had carefully reviewed the prosecution’s evidence, including exhibits, voluntary caution statements, and charge statements made by the accused.

He said he was satisfied that the prosecution had established sufficient evidence linking both accused to the alleged offences, warranting their committal to the High Court for trial.

Magistrate Fornah subsequently committed Noah Aleem Bun Kamara and Joe Menfallah to stand trial before the High Court.

He, however, granted them bail in the sum of Le250,000 each, with one surety in like amount for each accused. The sureties, the court ordered, must be responsible citizens residing in Freetown with fixed addresses and must produce valid National Identity cards.

The bail conditions are subject to approval by the Master and Registrar of the High Court.