By: Audrey Raymonda John
31yrs old James Baimba a Trader made his first appearance before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road court No.6 in Freetown on nine counts charges to wit two counts of tendering forged document, two count of forged document and five count charges ranging from obtaining money by false pretenses.
According to the particulars of offence on a date unknown between 1st September 2022 at four Mile Junction Waterloo rural area in Freetown with intent to defraud obtained the total sum of thirty three thousand new Leones (33,000).
On count two the accused person on the above date with intent to defraud forged certain documents to wit one Air ticket for Turkish Airlines dated 21st October 2022 in the name of Albert Sesay knowing same to be forged.
On count three the accused person on the above date forged the said Airlines ticket purporting to have been issued to by Turkish Airlines knowing same to be forged.
On count four on a date between 15th July to 10th August 2022 at same place the accused person Forged one Airlines ticket for Copa Airlines dated 30th October 2022 in the name Abdul Musa Sesay knowing same to be Forged.
On count five on the above date the accused person with intent to defraud Forged the said Copa Airlines ticket knowing same to be false.
On count six the accused person on the above date with intent to defraud obtained the sum of twenty three thousand Leones (23,000) from Musa Abdul Sesay on the pretext that he will facilitate his movement to Bahamas knowing same to be false.
On count seven the accused person obtained the sum of twenty one thousand seven hundred Leones (21,700) from Alusine Kanu on the pretext to facilitate his movement to Bahamas knowing same to be false.
On count eight the accused person obtained the sum of nineteen thousand Leones (19,000) From Umaru Jalloh on the pretext that he will facilitate his movement to his relative Bilkish Kargbo to Germany knowing same to be false.
On count nine the accused person obtained the sum of twenty seventeen thousand Leones(17,000) from Khalil Imran Deen Dumbuya on the pretext that he will facilitate his movement to Bahamas knowing same to be false.
The charges were read and explained to the accused person. No plea was taken.
The Prosecutor Ibrahim S Mansaray told the bench that his witness is present but he didn’t have proper conference in him.
Counsel representing the accused person Ibrahim Turay applied for bail for and on behalf of the accused person that he’s a Sierra Leonean resident within this jurisdiction that he has reliable sureties who are willing and ready to go into recognizance.
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 Ngegba granted the accused person bail in the sum of one thousand new Leones with two sureties all to be resident in Freetown one surety to show prove of receipt of bills.
Bail to be approved by the Deputy Assistant Registrar.
The Matter is adjourned to the 3rd March 2023 for further hearing.