By: Audrey Raymonda John
Two businessmen, Musa Seaport Kamara (27) and Serro Sesay, were arraigned before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 on three counts: conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretenses, and possession of another person’s passport for unlawful purposes.
The charges stem from an alleged scam in which Kamara and Sesay are accused of defrauding Joseph Dawson Kamara of $32,000 (approximately 768,000 Leones) by falsely promising to secure Brazilian visas for multiple individuals. They are also accused of possessing Sierra Leonean passports belonging to other individuals, intending to facilitate trafficking.
Conspiracy to Defraud: It is alleged that Kamara and Sesay, along with other unknown accomplices, conspired to defraud Joseph Dawson Kamara of $32,000 at Tombo, Freetown.
Obtaining Money by False Pretenses: Between November 1 and 30, 2024, the defendants allegedly obtained $18,000 from the complainant by falsely promising Brazilian visas for several people, knowing that the visas would not be provided.
Possession of Passport for Unlawful Purpose: Kamara is accused of possessing multiple Sierra Leonean passports belonging to others in January 2025 while in Ghana. The passports were allegedly used for unlawful purposes, including restricting movement and facilitating trafficking.
When the charges were read, neither defendant entered a plea.
Detective Police Constable Thoronka K.K., the lead investigator, provided evidence from his investigation. On March 18, 2025, Kamara reported the alleged fraud to the National Bureau of Interpol at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters in Freetown. Following the complaint, the case was assigned to Thoronka, who gathered statements from the complainant and other witnesses.
The complainant provided photographic evidence and an agreement between herself and the defendants. The investigation revealed that Kamara had been arrested in Ghana on March 19, 2025, by an individual named David Mansaray. Thoronka’s team traveled to Ghana, where Kamara was apprehended. The police obtained an emergency travel certificate for Kamara and seized eight Sierra Leonean passports.
Subsequent caution statements were obtained from both defendants in Ghana and Freetown, which were recorded and signed as true by the defendants. These statements were tendered in court as evidence.
On May 7, 2025, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) provided advice on the case, and on May 8, 2025, both defendants were formally charged and brought before Magistrate Fornah.
Neither defendant was legally represented during the proceedings.
Magistrate Fornah adjourned the case until November 21, 2025, with bail continuing for the second defendant, Serro Sesay.
The case is ongoing, and further investigations and court proceedings are expected to follow.