By Audrey John
37yrs old Tina Man’s has been arraigned before before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba road court No.1 in Freetown for preliminary investigation on one count charge of Obtaining Goods by false pretenses contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of offence between Wednesday 10th November and 27th November 2021 at Lumpa Waterloo, in the western Rural of Sierra Leone, with intent defraud obtained certain properties that is to say Amared and seventy nine cartoons of imported chickens value one hundred and fifty eight million nine hundred and forty nine thousand Leones(158,949,000) from Rakesh Dhameja of pee cee and Sons Waterloo branch by falsely pretending to pay the money in the period of three weeks knowing same to be false.
Taking the witness stand and lead evidence by sergeant 9155 Dwight Macarthy, Prosecution witness number one (PW1) Rakesh Dhameja narrated that he went into business with the accused person to deal with frozen chicken On the 10th to 27th November 2021.
He said the accused came for a supply and he gave the frozen goods to her worth one hundred and fifty eight million Leones (158,000,000) and after two weeks he called her and she started giving excuses.
The witness said he tried to call on the accused person for the second time, her phone was switched off and he proceeded on calling the husband of the accused and informed him that he will take action against his wife.
The witness produced document of the said transaction he made with the accused person and tendered it as exhibit A1-15.
The witness further stated that he made statement at the Criminal Investigation Department CID Headquarters.
Testing his evidence in cross examination by defense counsel J Wals, the witness gave his occupation as the manager of Pee cee and Sons adding that with such position he is able to identified document from the said office.
The witness also testified in court that he supplied the accused person goods valued one hundred and fifty eight million Leones only and made statement to the police when the deal back fires.
The witness also confirmed that the amount stated on the charge sheet was the same amount he told the police that the accused owe him.
Perusing exhibit A1-15 the witness said he signed copies invoices and this accused person have been doing business with the said office for long time.
The Witness said after supplying the accused, she paid what was owed, but he took her to the police because failed to comply.
The witness said he did not receive any payment from the police concerning the said business deal.
In that light, counsel representing the accused person J Wals made an application pursuant to section 190 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1865 for the statement of the witness to be made available to the defence in order for him to peruse bring out contradicting statement to the witness limiting it to the said value of the product the he is claiming.
Associating counsel H.M Gavao objected to the application made by defense counsel on the grounds that he ( the defence ) does not supply him the relevant sections.
At that juncture defense counsel seek for a short adjournment date and renew his bail application by adopting the previous one.
Defence counsel produced a Medical form from the Correctional center that was not signed, by a medical doctors on behalf of his sick client.
Associating Counsel H.M Gavao object towards the tendering of the said medical form on judicial grounds.
Having listening to both sides, Magistrate Kekura refused the accused bail and ordered her to be remanded at the Female correctional center special court in Freetown. He adjourned the matter to the 25th February 2022.