By: Audrey Raymonda John
Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No.1 has remanded a businesswoman Fatmata Marrah,33 at the Female Correctional Center on Pademba Road in Freetown for allegedly and conspiring with unknown persons to defraud Mohamed Kamara and Mariatu Kamara thousands of Leones pretending she will facilitate their travels to America knowing same to be false.
Fatamata Kamara who was residing Jabbie Street Mamboreh, Calaba Town, in Freetown was arrested on 18 April 2023 by Detective Police Constable (DPC) by 18202 Kpaka C.
Fatmata Bangura appeared before the court on three counts of conspiracy and two counts of obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to laws.
It was alleged that the accused, sometimes in January 2022 at Jui and Mamboreh in Freetown, conspired with unknown persons and obtained twenty thousand (NLe20,000) leones from the complainants pretending that she will facilitate their travels to America knowing same to be false.
Prosecution witness (PW), 2 Mariatu Momoh Kamara residing at Bamou Luma said she recognised her co- complainant and recognized the accused through his uncle Foday M. Kamara who is also a complainant in respect of the matter, and recalled sometime January 2022.
The witness furthered on that she got information from her mother, informing her that she had one of her brother, whose name was not mentioned residing in Freetown that had an overseas travel through a programme for America.
She said upon receipt of the information, her mother gave ten thousand (NLe10’000) leones, adding that she and her uncle left for Freetown.
Upon their arrival at Total Jui in Freetown, and her co-complainant, Foday M.Kamara led her to a purported office and introduced the accused to her to whom payment should be made.
Madam Kamara told the court that she paid NLe10,000 to the accused and the accused led them to her residence situated at Calaba Town at Bumeh for three solid months.
She said on 10 March 2023, her father whose name was not mentioned, made the final payment of seven thousand (NLe7,000) leones in the presence of Foday M. Kamara and Abdulai Kamara to the accused in the dock.
After three months she said the accused took them to Lungi for their departures.
While at Lungi the witness said she got information from her father that the accused have asked him to s travel box for which he did.
She said having spent seven (7) months at Lungi and the travel did not materialise, the accused took them again at Orogoo Allen Town in Freetown and that when one of her uncle’s Abdulai Kamara got information that the travel did not materialise, went to them at the aforesaid place.
PW 2 told the bench that when her uncle asked the accused to refund their money, in response, she, the accused told them that she invested the money into business.
She concluded her testimony that warranted them to report the matter to the Ross Road Police Station, Harbour Division in Freetown, where she also made a statement.
Defence Counsel A. Bangura sought for adjournment for cross examination and also adopted his previous application for bail for and on behalf of the accused.
Lawyer Bangura furthered intimated the bench that his client had spent three weeks at the correctional center and as a result, he pleaded with the bench to grant the accused bail.
In response, Magistrate Kekura refused the accused bail saying that the allegations levied against the accused are grave and that the address on the face of the document is vague.
The matter was adjourned to 22nd May for cross examination.