April 16, 2021
By: Francis F.M.Harding.
A petty trader at PZ roundabout in Central Freetown, Alhaji Alieu Koroma (complainant) was in court as Police Prosecution Witness (PW1) to testify in a matter involving Foday Lansana and Abu Bakarr Marah. The accused persons were arraigned in court before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Magistrate Court No. 1 in Freetown.
Both accused persons were arraigned in court on one count charge of fraudulent conversion contrary to the Laws of Sierra Leone.
According to the case file, the accused persons in May, 2019 at No. 330 Bai Bureh Road Calaba Town conspired together with other persons unknown to defraud Alhaji Aliue Koroma the sum of six million, one hundred and fifty thousand Leones (Le 6,140,000/00).
Testifying, PW1 said he knew the accused persons. He continued to say that in December 2018 one Mohamed Bella Jaketi paid him a visit and told him that he has an international job for him. Witnessed said he the enquired about the conditions involved.
He continued that Mohamed B. Jaketi replied that he was supposed to pay six million, one hundred and fifty thousand Leones (Le 6,140,000/00) and when he get the international job he will receive two hundred and twenty five thousand dollars monthly. The witness said the two accused persons were introduced to him by Mohamed Bella Jaketi (who is on the run) as his colleagues from the purported Qnet Company.
The witness said immediately he went to borrow six million, one hundred and fifty thousand Leones (Le 6,140,000/00) to pay. He said he handed over the monies to Mohamed Bella Jaketi. Witness said after weeks, he received a call from Foday Lansana, and said to him that “I have made part payment to Mohamed Bella Jaketi. .”
He further testified that on the 16th May, 2019 he gave three million six hundred and forty thousand Leones (Le 3, 640, 000, 00) to Foday Lansana (1st accused), and the accused led him to his co-workers to issue him receipt.
The witness said Foday Lansana asked him to leave all necessary information for the preparations of his documents to travel.
Few days later, Mohamed Bella Jaketi asked the witness to come along with two persons to witness the payment of six million, one hundred and fifty thousand Leones (Le 6,140,000/00) that he (witness) will be making.
He further disclosed that after the conversation he instructed his younger brother to sell their cows in the province and his brother complied.
Months later, the witness said after paying the money there was neither job nor the money till date. He said he went to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) police station to make a statement.
During cross examination, the witness did reply to the Defense Counsel that he is not lettered nor did he attain any formal education for him to read and write. The witness said he was convinced by the Qnet Logo on the receipt issued him. The witness said he had known Mohamed Bella Jaketi for a long time, and when he went to Qnet they did not inform him about the nature of the job, but that he was told the duration for the job was for ninety years.
ASP I.S.Mansaray represented the State while Lawyer Bozzie Kamara represented the accused persons. Matter has been adjourned to the 22nd April, 2021.