By: Audrey Raymonda John
Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road court No1 has on Friday 11 November 2022 issued bench warrant against Jihad Swaid a Lebanese national over an alleged fraud.
The accused Jihad Swaid was charge to court on seven count charge ranging from
Obtaining Monies by False Pretence Contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act 1916, causing money to be paid by false pretence and other related offenses all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
According to the particulars of offence on on count one, it was alleged that the accused on diverse dates between January, 2020 to December, 2020 at No.1 Market Road, Makeni, Bombali in the Bombali Judicial district in the North East Region of the Republic of Sierra Leone with intent to defraud obtained from the said Mr. Ibrahim Conteh the sum of USD$140,000(One Hundred and Forty United States Dollars) by falsely pretending that he has a house for sale at No.1 Market Road, Makeni, Bombali knowing same to be False.
The police further alleged on count two and three that the accused on diverse dates between January, 2020 to December, 2020 at No.1 Market Road, Makeni, Bombali in the Bombali Judicial District in the North East Region of the Republic of Sierra Leone with intent to defraud caused the sum of USD$19, 000 (nineteen Thousand United States Dollars)to be paid by Mr. Ibrahim Conteh Auctioneers for the purpose of Auctioning a house situate at No.1 Market Road, Makeni in the bid to be sold by him knowing same to be False.
It was further alleged on Count four that the accused person on the same date and place with, intent to defraud cause the sum of USD$14,000 to be paid by Mr. Ibrahim Conteh to by the said Paramount chief knowing that the entire sale
transaction was False.
Count five stated that the accused with intent to defrad cause the sum of $14, 000 USD to be paid by Mr. Ibrahim Conteh to Alusine Esq. being 10% fees of the total consideration of Conveyance in respect of the sale transaction knowing fully the entire transaction was False.
The police alleged on counts six that the accused with intent to defraud caused the sum of USD$14,000 to be paid by Mr. Ibrahim Conteh to National Revenue Authority (NRA) knowing fully the entire transaction was False.
Whiles counts seven added that the accused with intent to defraud caused Mr. Ibrahim Conteh the sum of USD$40,000 for the renovation of the said property knowing fully well that the sale transaction was False.
The prosecutor Lawyer H.M Gevao informed the court that they have been in court for the second time and the accused has failed to come to court in the circumstance he applied for bench warrant to be issued against the absent accused person.
Counsel representing the accused person was also absent in court.
Magistrate Ngegba,however, granted his application and order bench warrant against the absent accused and the matter was adjourned to the 16th November 2022 for further hearing.