By: Audrey Raymonda John
The accused persons Mohamed Lamin Kaira and another Guinean national are arraigned for preliminary hearings after the police investigated and charged them for defrauding their co nationals from Guinea thousands of United States dollars by falsely pretending to facilitate travelling documents 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 to 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 complaints promising that they will facilitate their travelling to Canada knowing same to be false.
The prosecutor Chief Inspector Isatu Bangura led three of the complainants who because of language barrier were translated for from English to Madingo and French.
All the complainants led so far explained how the deal was done, linking both accused persons to the crime.
During preliminaries, complainants said on those dates, they were in Guinea, when the first accused called and informed them that he had travel programme to Canada.
They said they hang heads together upon receiving the information, and left for Sierra Leone. They said upon his arrival in Freetown on Saturday 25th February 2023, the accused’s brother, Ibrahim Bangura received them at the airport and lodged them in his resident at Calaba Town.
They said the accused assured them that when they come to Sierra Leone they have to deposit the sum of three thousand United States dollars each for him to fix documents for them to travel to Canada.
They said after fulfilling their own side of the deal, the accused and co started twisting them and refused giving them what was due.
They said he immediately went and reported the matter to the police.
Shortly after the matter was mentioned yesterday by the court clerk for further hearings, the prosecutor informed the bench that the witness who was expected to testify was absent.
Rising from the bar, defense counsel AK Kamara and canvas the discretion of the bench on the issue of bail.
Magistrate Kekura said there are three accused persons and three complainants on this matter. He said he has to consider their constrains too, because they are foreigners who are going under serious challenges too.
Magistrate Kekura further stated that he sent the prosecutor twice to go and call the interpreter but to no avail. He adjourned the matter to the 2nd August 2023 for further hearing.