By: Audrey Raymonda John
Bintu Kosia and Fanta Manga made another appearance before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road court No.1 in Freetown on thirteen Count Charges to wit
Conspiracy contrary to law, nine counts of obtaining money by false pretenses and two counts of causing money to be paid to another by means of fraud.
According to the particulars of offence on various dates between November 2022 to April 2023 the accused persons obtained the sum of eighty two thousand five hundred Leones (Le 82,500) from Alladinor Frances Koroma, Violet Jeneba Johnson, Abdul Kowa, Christiana Mannah and Marian Garber with the pretext that they will facilitate their travelling to Canada knowing same to be false.
Inspector Sellu Tap lead Prosecution witness number two Sergeant 1580
Hassan A.S Kombay attached to the Criminal Investigation Department Pademba road Freetown, said he recognized the accused persons and the complainant in the matter.
He recalled on the 6th July 2023 whilst on duty a case of conspiracy was reported the matter was allocated to him for investigation himself and Sergeant 12192 Foday B.K interview caution statement the accused persons separately in krio language which was recorded in English language.
The said statement was read over and explained to the accused person which they admitted to be true and correct by afflicting their right hand thumbprint.
The said statement was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records during the course of the investigation a document of payments was retrieved by the first accused person.
The purpose of the document that was prepared is for the complainant to travel.
The said receipt was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records on the 25th July 2023 himself and Sergeant 12192 contemporaneously interviewed and charged the accused persons with the offence they’re standing trial on.
The charge statement was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records.
Meanwhile, bail continues for the accused persons and the matter was adjourned to the 28th September 2023 for further hearing.