By Audrey John
40yrs old Joseph Mannah a business man made another appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba road court No.1 in Freetown on three count charges to wit
Conspiracy to defraud contrary to law, money laundering contrary to section 15 (1)(a) of the Anti-money laundering and combating of financing of terrorism Act 2012 Act No.2 of 2012 and obtaining Money by false pretenses contrary to section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916
According to the particulars of offence on Friday 28th May 2021 at grass-field Kisssy the western area in Freetown with intent to defraud conspired together with other persons unknown to defraud Abdul Mark Dumbuya the sum of twenty thousand united state dollars (20,000) equivalent to two hundred and twenty million Leones (220,000,000)
On count two at the same place and date illicitly converted the said amount derived from an unlawful activity property of the said complainant.
On count three at the same place and date the accused person with intent to defraud obtained from the complainant the said amount by falsely pretending that he has two 814 trucks for sale knowing same to be false
Led in evidence by Deputy Superintendent of police Isatu Gbassy Fofanah
Mark A Dumbuya the witness said the accused person gave him three names Ibrahim Joseph Mannah, they were communicating on two lines the first line he save it as 814 and the other contacts he save it as Ibrahim car dealer.
The phone of the accused person was produce in court the witness said he prints the conversation.
The mobile phone was tendered as exhibit A and the printed copy was also tendered in court. Exhibit 814 was tender as B1-14 and Ibrahim car dealer was tendered as C1-14.
The witness said they were communicating on phone and the accused person did not have picture on his profile and he requested for his pictures. The accused person forwarded his pictures to him, at this point the defence counsel Jessie M Jengo objects towards the tendering of the pictures that was sent to the complainant, responding to defense counsel the prosecution said the witness has made his foundation and he is a witness of fact
Magistrate Keikura ruled that the witness is the custodian of the said pictures.
The pictures were tendered in court to form part of the court records, the witness said he made statement to the police station.
During cross examination by defense counsel Jessie M Jengo according to the two exhibit B and C you were charting with one Ibrahim car dealer and one 814 the witness said yes, the witness was shown exhibit D.
That exhibit was sent to you by WhatsApp the witness said through WhatsApp by Joseph Mannah you have just tender your phone in this court, yes go through the phone and show the court, even when you went through the phone there was nothing in it, are talking the truth the witness said yes.
There are printed photos from your WhatsApp charts and these photos weren’t found from your WhatsApp chart yes, you said after the alleged incident you were attached to a car centre the witness said yes and he concluded
However Magistrate Keikura refused bail and adjourned the matter to the 21st March 2022 for further hearing.