April 9, 2021
By: Audrey. R. John
Kadiatu Kamara an American designer on Thursday 8th April, 2021 has testified before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba road Court in Freetown.
In her testimony she told the court that she recognized the accused Sheriff Kargbo as her relative and recalled on the 1st August and 30th November 2020. She said she was in the United States when the accused told her to do timber business which she consented. Later, she sent some money through her sister Mariatu Mansaray, she told the court.
The first amount she sent was one thousand six hundred dollars (1600 USD) equivalent to sixteen million twenty thousand Leones. Mariatu Mansaray confirmed that she received the money and handed it over to Sheriff Kargbo, the accused.
She later sent another through her cousin, Mohamed Kamara three hundred dollars (300 USD) equivalent to Leones three million five hundred thousand Leones to handover to Sheriff Kargbo.
The witness said she again sent another sum of one hundred and sixty dollars through Mariatu Mansaray equivalent in Leones one million six hundred thousand Leones.
The accused then requested for vehicle to transport the timbers, which she sent- one ford Ranger vehicle through her Aunty Isata Kamara for the accused. The accused confirmed that the Ford was cleared.
The accused then called her on phone and confirmed that he had collected the vehicle which cost sixty million Leones.
The witness said she returned to Freetown from USA in November 2020, and herself and the accused person met at home Ranfred Avenue Deep Eye water, Waterloo and gave him fifteen million six hundred thousand Leone to prepare the timber.
On a later date, while waiting to receive her timber from Kabala the accused told her that he has encountered some problem at Kabala.
She went with the accused to Kabala at a place called Mandia were she was given some officers to escort her in the bush to collect her timbers. However she was informed by the Chairman in Kabala town that the accused does not have any timber and that he had sold the vehicle.
The accused was later arrested and brought to Freetown at the Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
At the end of her testimony, the accused was asked to cross examine the witness which he did.
The accused is arraigned on three count charges on Fraudulent conversation contrary to section 20 (i)(iv)(a) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the charge sheet on a date between the 1st and the 30th November 2021 at Ram Fred Avenue deep Eye Water Waterloo the Western Area fraudulently converted to his own use and benefit the sum of fifty three million forty thousand Leones and one ford Ranger van valued six thousand United States dollars equivalent to six hundred million Leones entrusted to him by Kadiatu Kamara
The accused was denied bail and remanded at the male Correctional Center in Freetown, while the matter was adjourned to the 14th April, 2021.