By: Audrey John
Led in his evidence by DSP L. Kuyateh, prosecution witness number one Ebere Nwalom, a Nigerian National and Lecturer at the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) has on Tuesday 7th of June 2022, testified against Bala Musa Kamara, Grafton Youth Chairman and Foday Kamara.
In his testimony, Nwalom stated that he recognized the accused persons and that recalled what happened from the 1st of October 2021 to the 30th of April 2022. According to him, between the said dates, the second accused, Bala Musa Kammara was introduced to him as the chairman of Grafton Community by James Tamba Sesay.
The witness said upon his introduction, the second accused told him that he has a piece of land which was shown to him (the witness) in the company of his wife, his son and James Tamba Sesay.
Nwalom said he rejected the first piece of land shown to him but the second accused told him that there was another piece of land which belongs to his younger brother but was quite expensive. The witness said he was interested in the said expensive land after it was shown to him.
According to Nwalom, the second accused took them to his compound where he lived and there they started negotiation. During the negotiation, the witness stated that another person named Edmond Vandi joined them in negotiating wherein they charged Le38, 000, 000 for the said land.
The witness said at that time, the second accused invited the first accused (Foday Kamara) as his said younger brother who stated that they are ready to sell the said land for Le30, 000,000 which was agreed upon. He mentioned that the sum of Le8, 000,000 was added to the aforesaid Le30, 000,000 because the land exceeds the actual size that they were shown after it was surveyed.
The witness revealed that he paid Le25, 000,000 as the first part payment and Le13, 000,000 which remained the balance was also paid to the accused person. Nwalom stated that the payment was videotaped showing the second accused collecting the money which he handed over to the first accused in the presence of his wife, his son, James Tamba Sesay and Edmond Vandi. He added that he has a receipt for the said payments in which the first accused signed as the receiver, James Tamba Sesay and Edmond Vandy signed as the witnesses.
The witness disclosed that he has a survey plan and Julius Mansaray; the headman signed the locals plan for the said land. “I was told to start construction immediately after that”, he said. The witness disclosed that the first accused was the caretaker of the land and other construction materials.
He further disclosed that he constructed two room apartments. According to him, sometimes in April 2022, at around 7:30pm, he got a call from Edmond Vandy who told him that his house has been destroyed.
The witness said he went there the following day and confirmed that his properties with a total value of 152,290,000 were destroyed excluding other properties on the grounds which were in custody of the first accused. Nwalom said he made a report of the situation at Grafton Police Station as advised by Edmond Vandi.
He said the police officer went to the scene of crime and took photos of the scene. The witness disclosed that a man named Francis Sallieu told him that the said land is the property of his sister who lives in America and that the first accused was only acting as a caretaker which was in the knowledge of the headman.
He continued that he informed the headman who called the first accused. The witness furthered that on a particular date, the first accused called him and revealed that himself and the others does not have a document for the said land but as long as the headman has signed, he the witness should not expect any problems. Nwalom mentioned that the matter was transferred from Grafton Police Station to Ross Road Police Station where he and his witnesses made statements with regards to the said matter.
At the end of his testimony, Magistrate Daboh issued a bench warrant for Julius Mansaray, the headman and Edmond Vandi adding that they must be charged.
The first accused, Foday Kamara is standing trial on six count charges ranging from conspiracy to defraud contrary to law obtaining money by false pretense contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916 and causing money to be paid to another with intent to defraud contrary to Section 32(2) (a) of the Larceny Act of 1916 whilst the second accused, Bala Musa Kamara is standing trial on three count charges of causing money to be paid to another with intent to defraud contrary to Section 32(2) (a) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
It was alleged that the accused persons, on diverse dates, at Soja Town, Grafton, Freetown in the Western Area defrauded Ebere Nwalom alias High Grade a total sum of Le23,290,3000 for a piece of land purported to be theirs knowing same to be false.
Magistrate Daboh remanded the accused persons and adjourned the matter to the 10th of June 2022 for further hearing.
