By Alimatu Jalloh
Mohamed Alie Bangura and Abubakar Sawaneh have made another appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No .1 for allegedly conspiring with unknown persons to defraud Ansumannah Gbessay Conteh and Alusine Kargbo thousands of Leones pretending that they would facilitate their travelling to Canada knowing same to be false.
The accused appeared before the court on four counts of conspiracy and three counts of obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to law.
The police say the accused on diverse dates between 1st January and 31st December 2022 at Main Motor Road, Maboreh, Allen Town in Freetown caused Ansumannah Gbessay Conteh to pay ninety-one thousand leones new Leone pretending that he would facilitate his travelling to Canada knowing same to be false.
The charge sheet shows that the accused, on the same date and place in Freetown, caused Alusine Kargbo to pay ninety-three thousand five hundred new Leone pretending that he would facilitate his travelling to Canada knowing same to be false.
The police also say that the accused on the same date and place , obtained NLe 51,000 (fifty-one thousand new Leones from Theiku Bangura pretending that he would facilitate his travelling to Canada knowing same to be false.
Prosecution witness (PW)1, Ansumannah Gbassay Conteh, led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), told the court that he recognised the accused in respect of the matter and recalled the days in question.
Conteh told the court that on the day in question, he received an international call, adding that when he responded to the call, the second accused Abubakar Sawaneh identified himself to him.
He said the second accused gave him an information about a traveling programme to Canada. He said the second accused asked him to forward his necessary documents to him if he was interested in the said programme.
He said upon receiving the information, the second accused, gave him the telephone number of his aunt Isatu Bangura.
He said the accused demanded five thousand leones (NLe5,000), adding that when he called Madam Bangura, she promised to come to Freetown. He said that on her arrival she instructed them to meet her at her office situated at Wan Word in Wellington Freetown.
The witness said that when they visited Bangura, he led them into her office at Wan Word Garage in Freetown, where he handed over five thousand leones (NLe5,000) her as money to start their documentation process.
At the juncture, the police prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police Mohamed B. Bangura sought for an adjournment for him to have proper conference with his witness. His application was granted.
The accused was denied bail.
The matter was adjourned to September 11, 2023 for examination in chief.