By Fatima Kpaka
Mohamed Sal, a business, was on Monday 13th November 2023 sent on remand by Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba Road Court No1 for allegedly obtaining over Le 200,000,000 from one Yusuf Turay and Adama Turay by intentionally and falsely pretending that he will facilitate their travel to Canada and the United States of America.
The accused was arraigned before the court charges of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The charge sheet indicated that the accused sometime in July, 2022 at Aberdeen in Freetown, obtained the sum of Le 248,750,000 from both complainants by falsely pretending that he will facilitate their travel to Canada and the US.
Inspector Mohamed Bangura testified in the case against the accused. He investigated the matter when it was reported at the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters.
He recognized the accused and recalled that on the 30th of January 2023 he was on duty when he received a case and enquiry file from the Criminal Investigation Department Ross Road Police station which had been assigned to him for further investigation.
The witness furthered that the file contained one fake visa document and four statements in respect of both complainants and their witnesses.
The purported fake visa document was later tendered in court and was marked as exhibit A .
He further said that he also received nine passport books and a receipt book which were also tendered in court
Furthermore, the witness said he also received several receipts of payments made by Yusuf Turay and Adama Turay to the accused.
The receipts were tendered and marked as exhibit F1-9.
Inspector Bangura continued that on Thursday 2nd February 2023, he obtained Voluntary Caution Statements from the accused Mohamed Sal by observing the judges rules.
The Voluntary Caution Statements were tendered and marked as exhibit G1-3.
Inspector Bangura also informed the court that on the same day he charged the accused with the offences of Conspiracy and Obtaining Money by false pretenses.
The charge statements were also tendered in court to form part of the prosecution’s case.
The witness was cross examined by the accused himself as he was had lawyer representing him in court.
The accused in his cross examination put it to the witness that he had told him that he had already made statement at the Ross Road Police Station and could not make another statement at the CID, and the witness concurred to that fact.
Furthermore, the witness said the purportedly fake visa document was sent to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) where it was confirmed that the visa documents were fake.
After the cross examination the accused admitted to bail on the case file in respect of the Le 248,750,000 but he was denied bail on the other three files that had been prepared against him and mentioned before the court.
All the matters were adjourned to the 27th of November 2023.
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