By: Audrey John
34yrs old Samuel Sylverlie a Student and 44yrs old Komba John Bull a surveyor have been arraigned before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba road court No.1 in Freetown for defrauding complainant Augustine Aiah Moiwo the sum of fifty six million Leones for land.
They are charges to with Conspiracy to defraud contrary to law, Obtaining money by false pretences contrary to section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916 and Causing Money to be Paid to another person with intent to defraud contrary to section 32 (2) (a) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of offence, on the 4th February 2021 at Moko Town Bathurst village the western area in Freetown with intent to defraud, first accused conspired together with one Komba John Bull to defraud Augustine Aiah Moiwa the sum of Fifty six million Leones (56,000,000) with pretest that you will sell five and a half town lot knowing same to be false.
On count two, the accused persons with intent to defraud obtained the said amount from complainant by falsely pretending that they have a piece and parcel of land lying and situated at Charlotte village for sale knowing same to be false.
The police also alleged that on count three that the second accused person Komba John Bull fraudulently caused complainant to pay the said amount to the first accused person who purported to have a piece of land lying and situated at Charlotte village knowing same to be false .
Led in evidence by Inspector Kadie M Taylor, Prosecution witness number three (PW3) inspector Mohamed B Barrie attached to the economic and financial fraud unit CID headquarters Pademba Road Freetown said he knew the complainant and the accused persons in respect of this matter.
PW3 said on the 28th March 2022 he was on duty when the matter was allocated to him the said file contains statements from the complainant and her witnesses including agreement paper that has the signature of the first accused person and the complainant, while the second accused person also signed it as a witness.
The witness said himself and DPC 19981 Mansaray SI and the complainant went to hill station police post where they met the accused in custody for a similar offence and they requested for the accused person in respect of this matter the accused was handed over to them on the 28th March 2022.
The witness said they took the first accused person to the Criminal Investigation Department CID headquarters Pademba Road Freetown on the same date himself and DPC 19981 Mansaray S.I obtained contemporaneous interview statement from the first accused person which he made statement in krio the said statement was read over to the accused person which he admitted to be true and correct by afflicting his right hand thumb print witness by DPC Mansaray SI and he signed as the recorder since then the said statement was in the custody of the police produced and tendered as exhibit D1-9.
PW3 continued that on the 8th April 2022 himself and DPC 19981 Mansaray SI arrested and brought the second accused to the CID headquarters on the same date himself and DPC Mansaray S.I obtained contemporaneous interview statement from the second accused person and he was cautioned and question in krio language and recorded it in English at the conclusion of the statement it was read over and explained to the second accused person he admitted it to be true and correct by afflicting his right hand thumb print witness by DPC 19981 Mansaray S.I and he signed as the recorder the statement of the second accused was produce and tendered in court and marked as exhibit Z.
However, Magistrate Kekura granted the first accused person bail in the sum of one hundred million Leones or one surety in like sum surety must be elderly and responsible citizen the surety should produce resident in Freetown the surety must be gainfully employed from a recognized institution and should produce employment letter including identity card of the said institution, the surety should also produce identity card depicting his or her address in Freetown bail to be approved by the Deputy assistant Registrar.
Matter adjourned to the 21st June, 2022 for further hearing bail continues for the second accused person.
