By Alimatu Jalloh
One Fanta Fofanah has appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura for allegedly duping her step-sister’s fiancé, Mohamed Turay of NLe18,000 pretending that she would facilitate his travelling to Canada, but the accused failed to do so.
The accused was arraigned before the court for the offences of conspiracy to defraud and nine counts of obtaining money by false pretense contrary to law.
The police records stated that the accused, on diverse dates between the 1st of September 2022 and the 28th of February 2023 at Wellington, in Freetown, obtained approximately NLe 100,000 from Mohamred Turay, James Palmer and others pretending that she would facilitate their travelling to Canada knowing same to be false.
At this stage after the charges had been read and explained to the accused person, prosecution witness, Doris Palmer took to the witness stand, recognized the accused as her step sister, and recalled that on diverse dates between the 1st of September 2022 and the 28th of February, 2023 the accused met and informed her that she had a Programme to travel to Canada.
Upon receiving the information, she said she told the accused that she and her fiancé, Mohamed were interested in travelling to Canada.
She said that the accused then instructed her and fiancé to meet her at an office at a place called Haja Fatmata, at Wellington, in Freetown, and told them to pay the sum of NLe 15,000.
She said within a week, her fiancé, Mohamed Turay gave her the sum NLe3,000 and she left for the accused’s office of the said address in Freetown where she handed over the money to the accused and after doing so the accused handed over a form to him.
Doris said that in total she paid the sum of NLe 18,000 to the accused at his office for Turay’s travel to Canada, but she was not issued with any receipt.
She said that later Turay told her that he was no longer interested in the travelling program, adding that he requested for part of his money to be returned to him.
The witness said the accused failed to refund Turay’s money and which prompted the report of the matter to the Kissy Police Station in Freetown.
Subsequently, she said her mother arrested the accused and took her to the Kissy Police Station where she made a statement.
Defense counsel, Ibrahim Macfoy started cross examining the witness, but later sought for an adjournment for cross examination to continue on the next adjourned date.
Counsel’s application for bail was granted.
The bail of the accused remains in force and the matter was adjourned to the 27th October 2023 for further cross examination.
Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP Osman M. Bangura is prosecuting the matter.