By: Audrey Raymonda John
Mohamed Alie Bangura and Abubkar Sawaned have made another appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No .1 for allegedly conspiring with other unknown persons to defraud Alusine Gbessay Conteh thousands of Leones pretending that he would facilitate their travelling to Canada knowing same to be false.
The accused appeared before the court on four counts charges of conspiracy and three counts charges ranging from obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to law.
According to the particulars of offence the accused persons on diverse dates between 1st January and 31st December, 2022 at Main Motor Road Maboreh, Allen town Freetown caused Alusine Gbassay Conteh nine thousand one hundred Leones pretending that he would facilitate his travelling to Canada knowing same to be false.
The charge sheet adduced that the accused, on the same date and place in Freetown ninety three thousand five hundred Leones pretending that he would facilitate Alusine Kargbo’s travelling to Canada knowing same to be false.
The police also say that the accused, on the same date and place in Freetown, obtained fifty-one thousand Leones from Theiku Bangura pretending that he would facilitate his travelling to Canada knowing same to be false.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Mohamed B Bangura lead
Prosecution witness number one (PW) 1, Alusine Gbassay Conteh, told the court that he recognized the accused in respect of the matter.
Conteh told the court that on that day, he received an international call adding that when he responded to the call, the second accused, Abubakar Sawaneh identified himself to him.
He said the second accused gave information about traveling programme to Canada and the second accused asked him to forward his necessary documents to him if he was interested in the said programme.
Upon receiving the information, the second accused, gave his aunt Isatu Bangura’s to him.
He said the accused demanded five thousand Leones (NLe5,000), adding that when he called Madam Bangura, she instructed to come Freetown disclosing that when they arrived in Freetown, the accused’s Aunty, Isatu Bangura , instructed them to meet him at her office situated at Wan Word in Wellington Freetown.
Upon reaching there, he went on that Isatu Bangura led them into her office at Wan Word Garage in Freetown, where he handed over five thousand Leones (NLe5,000) to Isatu Bangura for money to start the documentation process.
At this juncture, the police prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP Mohamed B. Bangura sought for an adjournment for him to have proper conference with his witness which was granted.
The accused was dined bail and remanded at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown
The matter was adjourned to 11th September 2023 for further examination in chief.