Chief Inspector Isatu Bangura from Legal Justice Department in the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) has on Friday 7th July 2023 informed Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No.1 that her colleagues have apprehended the prime suspect in the ongoing fraudulent matter involving two Guinean nationals Mohamed Lamin Kaira an another.
Both accused persons are before the presiding magistrate for preliminary hearings after defrauding their co nationals from Guinea thousand dollars by falsely pretending to facilitate travelling documents for the to travel overseas.
It was alleged by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) that the accused on diverse dates between 1st February and 28th February 2023 at the aforesaid place in Calaba Town in Freetown, conspired with unknown persons to defraud and obtained six thousand, nine hundred United States dollars ($6,900) equivalent to one hundred thirty-six thousand, two hundred and seventy-five leones (NLe136,275) pretending that they will facilitate the traveling of their co nationals to Canada knowing same to be false.
The police further stated that the accused, on the same date and place in Freetown, defrauded two thousand, nine hundred United States dollars($2,900) equivalent sixty thousand, six hundred and thirty leones (NLe6,630) pretending that they will facilitate their travelling to Canada knowing same to be false.
It was also alleged that the accused, obtained thousands of United States dollars for the complainants promising that they will facilitate their travelling to Canada knowing same to be false.
Led in evidence by Chief Inspector Isatu Bangura the second prosecution witness (PW)2, Amara Kamara who is residing at Vincent Drive Lumley in Freetown recognized the first accused through his friend, Momodu Mansaray and the second accused in respect of the matter.
PW2 said he recalled on diverse dates between 1st February and 28th February 2023.
He said on those dates, he was in Guinea, when the first accused called and informed him that he had travel programme to Canada.
He said upon receiving the information, he left for Sierra Leone, adding that upon his arrival in Freetown on Saturday 25th February 2023, the accused’s brother, Ibrahim Bangura received him at the airport and lodged him.
He said the accused assured him that when he came to Sierra Leone he had to deposit the sum of three thousand United States dollars for him to travel to Canada.
Though prosecution witness was testifying in Mandingo, the interpretation was done by a barrister, Fanta Sheriff from Mandingo to Krio.
At this juncture, Chief Inspector Isatu Bangura sought for an adjournment for her to have proper conference with her with witness in presence of the interpreter, which was granted.
Meanwhile, magistrate Kekura granted both accused persons bail in the sum of five hundred thousand Leones with sureties in like.
The accused persons are yet to meet the bail conditions being granted to them since last week.
The are still on remanded at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to 17th July 2023 for the prosecution to continue.