September 21, 2021
By Audrey John
Mohamed Fofanah a staff of Eco bank SL has on the 20th September 2021 testified in the ongoing preliminary investigation into an alleged fraud of over six thousand US dollar ($ 6,000) for Visa against one Mustapha Daramy.
The accused Mustapha Daramy was arraigned before magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba road court No 1 on one count charge of obtaining money by false pretenses’ contrary to section 32(1) of the larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of offence, it was alleged that the accused on diverse date between January 2018 and March 2018, in Freetown with intent to defraud, obtained from Mohamed Sidique Fofanah the total sum of six thousand two hundred and fifty united state dollars equivalent to (Le 62,500,000.00) by falsely pretending that he would facilitate the movement of his relatives Ibrahim Fofanah and Fatmata Yansaneh to Dubai, knowing same to be false.
The witness Mohamed Sidique Fofanah led in evidence by Inspector Isatu Gbassay Fofanah said he is a banker working for Eco Bank SL.
He recognized the accused Mustapha Daramy, adding that he came to know him whiles he was at Paris Airport and further recalled diverse dates between January 2018 and March 2018.
He said he came in contact with the accused when he lost contact with the people that were supposed to collect him at Paris Airport, adding, that was the time he came in contact with the accused who identified himself as a Sierra Leonean and help him to contact one Amadu Sillah in Paris.
“When he contacted Amadu Sillah, he came to my aid and help me so much, it was during that time the accused told me about his business which is to help people that want to travel abroad, I then told him during our discussion that I will be interested in his business because I want my siblings Sahid and Ibrahim Fofanah to travel abroad”, he stated.
The witness added that since then he had been in contact with the accused in respect of their discussion and they agreed on 3,000 USD per person.
He said upon their discussion, he gave his younger brother Ibrahim Fofanah the said 3, 000 USD to give to the accused in Liberia which he did on his arrival in Liberia for documentation.
According to him, upon his brother arrival, he was communicating with the accused.
At this juncture, prosecutor Inspector Isatu Gbassay Fofanah requested for an adjournment to have proper conference with the complainant.
Defense counsel Emmanuel Teddy Koroma renewed his application for bail noting that the complaints against the accused are baseless.
He said bail should not be used as a mean to punish accused person but ensure the feature appearance of an accused in court.
The prosecutor Inspector Fofanah vehemently opposed to bail on the grounds that the accused has about 8 file in the court in respect of the same allegation and therefore pleaded with the bench to take judicial notice of that fact.
Lawyer J.T Try was the associating counsel in the matter.
The accused was refused Bail and the matter was adjourned to Thursday 23 September 2021.
In another development, the accused Mustapha Daramy who has over 7 files before magistrate Sahr Kekura on the same allegation was also drag to court by Moissa Sheriff for allegedly obtaining the sum of 4,500 US dollar for the facilitation of Mahmoud Koroma to France.
The accused Mustapha Daramy was charged with one count of obtaining money by false pretenses’ contrary to section 32 (1) of the larceny Act 1916.
The police alleged that the accused on diverse dates between 1st to 31st May 2021 at No 60 Charles Street Freetown with intent to defraud obtained from Moissa Sheriff the sum of 4,500 US dollar equivalent to (Le 46,800,000) by falsely pretending that he will facilitate the movement of Mahmoud Koroma to France knowing same to be false.
When the charge was read and explain to the accused person, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor Inspector Fofanah requested for an adjournment to have proper conference with the complainant Moissa Sheriff who was present in court.
Defense counsel Emmanuel Teddy Koroma applied for bail on behalf of the accused pursuant to section 79 2 &3 of the criminal procedure act No 32 of 1965.
His bail application was vehemently opposed to by the prosecutor due to the serious nature of the offence charge.
Magistrate Sahr Kekura however granted the application for an adjournment and adjourned the matter to 23 September 2021while the accused was remanded in prison.