By: Audrey Raymonda John
Finnah Hawanatu Marrah, Abubakarr Jah and two others have been ordered to be remanded at the male and female correctional center by magistrate Mark Ngegba of Court No.1 for money doubling, a case of five thousand United States dollars.
The accused persons were arraigned before the court after police investigation on five counts charges ranging from Conspiracy to defraud contrary to law, obtaining money by false pretences, causing money to be paid to another with intent to defraud contrary to section 32 1 of the larceny Act 1916 and other related offenses contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
According to the particulars of offense in count one, it was alleged that the accused persons between the 3rd and 4th October 2023, at Liver side drive, KingHarman road Freetown with intent to defraud conspired together with other person’s unknown, and defraud Iye Mansaray, the sum of five thousand united states dollars equivalent to one hundred and twenty two thousand five hundred Leones (NLe 122,500) new note and sixty thousand Leones all to the total sum of (NLE 182,500) new notes.
The police further alleged on count two and three that the accused Abubakarr Jah on the same dates and place obtained the sum of five thousand united states dollars from Iye Mansaray by falsely pretending that he will multiply twice that amount, using his money doubling machine, knowing same to be false.
In counts four and five, it was also alleged that the accused AbdulRahman Mansallay and Finnah Hawanatu Marrah on the same date and place with intent to defraud, unlawfully cause money to be paid by Iye Mansaray, to wit Five thousand united states dollars to Abubakarr Jah who falsely pretended that, he will multiply twice that amount, using a money doubling machine, knowing same to be false.
The charges were read and explained to the accused persons with no plea taken.
Led in his examination in chief Assistant Superintendent of police Ibrahim S Mansaray, Complainant Iye Mansaray a musician recognized the accused persons in the dock through a transaction they engaged in.
She said between the 3rd to 4th October 2023, the Forth accused person call her on phone and informed her about his business partner whom he asked to meet her at King Harman Road Freetown.
Complainant said she paid the sum of ten thousand. She said they proceeded to Lumley fuel station where she met the 1st accused person who informed her that the 2nd accused person is on a business trip.
She said they went to a place where the first accused person took a bowl of water, a towel and soap. She explained that the first accused person ask the Forth accused person to give him twenty Leones and ten Leones note which he did and few minutes later, that the first accused person took two bottle of spray and black paper and place it inside the bowl and to her surprise she saw huge junk of the money that was placed inside the bowl.
Complainant told the court that seeing what they do, she was shocked and the Forth accused person told her that she went her to trust them about the business and convince her to the extent of she presenting the sum of ten thousand dollars and one hundred thousand new Leones.
She said that same day she went with the 4th accused person to UBA bank where she took thirty thousand new Leones and one thousand dollars which was given to the Forth accused person to place inside one black plastic bag.
Complainant narrated that the first accused ask the Forth accused person to hold on it for a while after that herself together with the first and Forth accused person went to their office at Wilkinson road where first accused person called the second accused person and informed him about their presence.
She said after some time, the first accused person told her that he is going to call the second accused person and informed him that they have been at the office at Wilkinson road over an hour.
After giving them her money, complainant said she never realized what they bargained for
She said she informed the police about the accused persons any they are subsequently arrested and taken to the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters and she was later asked to make statement.
Defense counsel M Baratey Esq applied for bail for and on behalf of the accused person citing section 79 sub sections 3 of the criminal procedure Act No.32 of 1965.
The prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of police Ibrahim S Mansaray objected to bail on the grounds of the serious nature of the offense.
Having heard from both sides, Magistrate Ngegba refused the accused persons bail and ordered them to be remanded at the male and female correctional center. He however he adjourned the matter to the 7th November 2023 for the Prosecution to continue.