By Audrey John
Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Court No 1 has ordered Hassan Lee former staff of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to be remanded at the Male Correctional Center.
The accused was arraigned before him for obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to section 32(1) of the larceny Act of 1916.
It was alleged on the charge sheet that on a date unknown between 1st to 30th April, 2022, at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Gloucester Street in Freetown, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of four thousand United States Dollars ($4000) equivalent to forty three million leones (Le43, 000, 000,00) from complainant Samuel Tarawally by falsely pretending that he will facilitate his travel and five others to Australia, knowing same to be false.
Led in evidence by sergeant Dwight Marcathy Prosecution witness number two Fatmata Margret Barrie social worker at Don Bosco Fambul testified in court.
She recognized the complainant and the accused person recalled on the 1st and 30th of April 2019. She stated that he heard about a program at the ministry of internal affairs which is a Turkey program. So, she and her colleagues Samuel Tarawally and four others went there for enquiry and they met the accused and he did an introduction as Personal Assistant to the minister by then and he had assured them of the said program.
The witness said after that they went home after two days.
I placed a called to the accused and the accused told them the said program has closed and the only available program that was on is the Australia program.
I asked him about the price for the Australia program the accused the said the cost is One thousand dollars for one person and the person should pay fifty percent of the said amount and I raised six hundred thousand dollars and my other colleagues raise some amount which surmounts to forty three million Leones.
I together and my colleagues and the complainant handed over the money to the accused.
Thereafter, the accused told them he give them a call in two day time but he did not called and I try to called him but the phone was off.
I and my colleagues went to the ministry for enquiry and the secretary said to them that the accused was on the run.
After that I and my colleagues made statement at central police station and they issued for them warrants of arrest.
One day his colleagues gave her and information that the accused has been arrested and I went at the central police station and they took me to the CID so that I can identify the accused which I did since then I have not received my money from the accused person.
During cross examination by Defense Consul E Tarawally he said to the witness that you collected the said amount from your colleagues the witness said no I did not collect any amount from my colleagues.
In your testimony you stated that you and the accused had a conversation on phone, the witness said yes we did.
Defense counsel said you are the only person the accused spoke to about the said amount, the witness said i am not the only one who speaks with my colleagues.
Defense counsel said the first time you had physical contact with the accused you were with the complainant the witness said no my other colleagues were there.
He said to the witness that the very day you submitted the amount to the accused your colleagues were there the witness said yes.
Defense counsel said to witness again will u be surprised that the Complainant said it was you and him that were present when the amount was given to the accused.
At this point, prosecution objected that the question is unfair.
The prosecution objected that the witness was not in court when the complainant was testifying.
Defense counsel said when you were discussing about the amount you were only communicating on phone with the accused and within two days you promised to call, the witness said yes.
And you cannot tell whether it was the accused you were speaking to the witness said I can tell because I have the cell phone number of the accused.
Defense counsel said it was the warrant of arrest that was giving to you at the police station you used to arrest the accused the witness said no I was informed about the accused arrest.
However Magistrate Kekura adjourned the matter to the 7th of April 2022 for further hearing.
