By: Audrey Raymonda John
37yrs Alie Swaray made his first appearance before Magistrate Lodonnette Macauley of Pademba Road Court No.5 in Freetown on two count charges to wit Conspiracy to defraud contrary to law and Causing Money to be paid by a means of fraud contrary to section 32 (2) (a) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of offence on Tuesday 25th May 2021 at Grafton the western area in Freetown conspired together and with other persons unknown to defraud Alimammy Kamara the sum of Ninety thousand Leones(90,000).
On count two on the same date at the same place Fraudulently converted caused Alimammy Kamara to Pay the sum of ninety thousand Leones(90,000) to Samuel Kargbo who purported that he has a land for sale knowing same to be false.
The chargeswere read and explained to the accused person and he pleaded not guilty.
Assistant Superintendent of police Evelyn Conteh Lead Prosecution witness number one Francis Mohamed Obaleh Conteh a business man at the same time a musician said he knows the complainant and the accused person in the dock.
On the day himself and his sister went and pay the Money and he recalled on the 25th May 2021 he was at home Grafton he received a call from one Alimamy based in the United States of America through a phone call and told him that he bought a piece of land from the accused person.
The witness said Alimammy told him that the piece of land cost ninety million old Leones the witness said Alimammy sent fifty million Leones to him; himself and one Zanib went to Regent and met the accused person inside one unfinished house they counted the money and handed over it to the accused person.
The witness said by then the accused person introduced to him the man that owns the piece of land the accused person promised to give him receipts of the piece of land, the witness said later they heard the land has issues, the witness said he was called at Lumley police station where statement was obtained from him.
Cross examination by defense counsel how much did you pay to the accused person, the witness said fifty million Leones, and the said land there was no document shown to you for the piece of land, I’m putting it to you that the person that owns the land present a document to you.
The witness said not to his knowledge, because the accused person did not receive the balance money from Alimammy that why he didn’t give the piece of land, the witness said not to his knowledge.
How much did Alimammy and the accused person agreed for the piece of land, the witness said ninety million old Leones.
Counsel representing the accused person applied for bail for and on behalf of the accused person that he is a Sierra Leonean resident within this jurisdiction that he has reliable sureties who are willing and ready to go into recognizance on his behalf.
He will not interfere with prosecution witness or witnesses he made his application pursuant to section 79 2 of the Criminal procedure Act No.32 of 1965.
Meanwhile Magistrate Macauley refused bail and adjourned the matter to 14th December 2022.