On Tuesday January 19, 2021, Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Court No.1 on Pademba Road in Freetown granted 50 million Leones bail each to Foday Lansana Marrah and Abu-Bakarr Marrah for alleged conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
After they have denied the charges, defence counsel, Achtatoh Derrek applied for bail on behalf of his clients, noting that the accused persons are Sierra Leoneans residing within the jurisdiction.
He added that his clients are employed in renowned institutions and they have reliable and credible sureties that would enter into their recognisances ,and if bail is granted, they would not jump bail or interfere with witnesses.
He continued that bail is the discretion of the Magistrate, he e pleaded with the Magistrate to use his discretion in favour of his clients.
However, Magistrate Ngegba noted that the offences are bailable and that the accused persons should be presumed innocence.
He therefore granted bail to the accused persons in the sum of Le50 million fifty million Leones each, plus two sureties each and each sureties much be employed in a reputable institution for two years.
He further ordered that, each surety must be above 40 years and they must produce utility bills. The bail bond must be approved by Deputy Master and Registrar.
The state counsel, I.T Bangura alleged that both accused persons on Thursday May 16, 2019, at 336 Bai Bureh Road in Freetown, conspired with other persons unknown to defraud Alhaji Allieu Koroma the sum of Le6,144, 000 (six million, one hundred and forty four thousand Leones), by falsely pretending that they will help him secure a job at Qnet office which is known to be false.
The stated that the accused persons on the same date and place obtained the same amount from the complainant by falsely pretending that they will help him secure a job which is known to be false.
The accused persons were staff of a company called Qnet that are collecting monies from people by pretending that they will help them get a job, learn overseas, give them product when they deposit money.
The accused were sent into remand and the matter was adjourned to Thursday, February 4, 2021.
By Isabella Cassell
21/01/2021. ISSUE NO: 7985