By Fatima Kpaka
FREETOWN — A travel agent of Findlay Sierra Leone Limited, Isata Favour Benya, has been remanded in custody following her appearance before Magistrate Augustine Brima Samura of the Pademba Road Court No. 8 on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Benya faces multiple charges in connection with an alleged travel scam affecting six Sierra Leonean nationals.
Benya stands accused on six counts, including conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of obtaining money by false pretences in violation of Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916. Court documents allege that between January 1 and May 14, 2025, the accused collected over $9,000 from six individuals under the guise of facilitating international travel arrangements.
Among the victims, Zainab Bangura testified that she was introduced to the accused through her sister. She stated that Benya demanded an initial $500 for processing documents and booking a flight to China via Ethiopian Airlines. Subsequently, Bangura and seven associates made further payments, none of which were accompanied by receipts. According to Bangura, Benya became unreachable after the transactions were completed.
Additional amounts were allegedly collected from other victims, including Isha Conteh ($1,510), Mary Lynch ($1,496), Isata Sesay ($1,585), and Sheka Hamza Bangura ($1,400), all under the same false pretence of arranging air tickets for international travel.
Detective Police Constable 14898 Joseph Lamin Dumbuya led the prosecution. During cross-examination, defense counsel Chernor Kamara renewed a previous bail application on behalf of the accused, which Magistrate Samura denied due to the severity of the alleged offences.