April 30, 2021
By: Francis F.M.Harding
First Police Witness (PW1) Abubakarr Conteh, who is also chairman for boat owners association of Tombo, has testified before Magistrate Mark Ngegba on the 28thApril, 2021 at the Pademba Road Court in Freetown in an alleged case of false pretense of obtaining money, forgery and impersonation all contrary to the Laws of Sierra Leone against Abdulai Rahman Wurie (accused person).
According to the particulars of offence on count one reads that between 1st January to 25th February, 2020 at Tombo village in the Western Rural district of Sierra Leone that Abdulai Rahman Wurie pretend to fraud and obtained fourty five million Leones (Le 45,000,000/00) from Abubakarr Conteh for facilitating a programme for his daughter Ramatu Conteh. Count two, particulars of offence states that: between 1st January to 25th February, 2020 at Tombo village in the Western Rural district of Sierra Leone that Abdulairahman Wurie impersonate that you were working for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and count three, the particulars of offence state that: between 1st January to 25th February, 2020 at Tombo village in the Western Rural district of Sierra Leone that Abdulairahman Wurie conspired with others to robbed Abubakarr Conteh.
Testifying in court, the witness said he recognized the accused person as he was introduced to him by Sargent Jalloh sometimes in January to February 2020. He said the accused person came to visit him in the morning hours while he was preparing to onboard his boat for fishing. He said he exchanged phone numbers with the accused on the said day; however their discussion was based around U.S.A trip for his daughter, Kadiatu Conteh. “The accused told me that he a legal representative for the Anti-Corruption Commission” witness said.
The witness also told the court that the accused person informed him that his wife is a white U.S citizen, while his mother-in-law has helped over twenty people from Sierra Leone who are currently in the USA.
Upon his returned to Freetown I bought him a recharge card of fifty thousand Leones, and two days later I handed over to the accuse one million two hundred thousand Leone (1,200,000/00) for processing of visa for Kadiatu Conteh (witness daughter).
The witness revealed that he gave the accuse certain documents, including a photocopy of his daughter birth certificate which he requested for; while the accuse also showed him his own passport book, an Ant-Corruption identity card with inscription Ibrahim Kabbia with a pistol gun. On the same, the witness said he sent money through orange mobile money the sum of two million five hundred Leones (2,500,000/00) to complete the process of the visa.
In narrating the witness, mentioned to the court that the accuse came to visit after some days with brown envelope containing documents which he showed to him, the accused refused to leave the document with him; the next he was informed by the accused that his wife was ill and needed to take her to the provinces for medication.
“After a week the accuse came to my place at Tombo village and requested for eleven million Leones (Le 11,000,000/00) to take the document to United States Embassy, I gave him the money in my parlor in front of my wife. He also requested for police clearance fee of three million Leones (Le 3,000,000/00) which i gave to him,” he narrated.
Another time he the accused requested that to book for ticket at the U.S Embassy will cost eighteen million Leones (18,000,000/00). The witness narrated that the accused person borrowed fifteen million from him for his personal use and also told the witness that to do medical will cost three million Leone (3,000,000/00), Witness said the accused person called and told him about medical and he give three million Leone (Le 3,000,000/00). A week later witness said the accused person called to inform him that U.S Embassy needs yellow card and it will cost two million Leones, which he transferred through Orang mobile money.
PW1 said to the court that the accuse informed him that the Consul at the US Embassy will be sent on a two weeks leave; so he urged him to send smocked fish for her (Consul) and witness went ahead and bought one million fife hundred thousand fish and handed it over to the accused person.
After sending the fish the witness said the accused person called him and said the US Embassy has requested for COVID test and its cost one million Leones (Le 1,000,000/00). Witness continued to say the accused person came back to him and said the US Embassy has requested for a lawyer and the lawyer fee cost three million Leones (Le 3,000,000/00). The witness said after given the accused person all the monies he had requested, the accused person called the witness and said the Consul Love coconut oil, the witness said he went ahead and bought one million five hundred thousand Leones coconut oil. After which he has been calling the accused person he has not been answering his call. The witness said he decided to report the matter at the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) and he also reported the matter at the Tombo police post.
Under cross examination, Defense Lawyer Ibrahim Sorie Sankoh asked the witness whether he knew the accused person before this time. Witness said no but he was introduced to him by one Police Sargent Jalloh. The Defense counsel put the question that in all the financial transactions, between himself and the accused person whether they were done in the presence of Sargent Jalloh. The witness said no but he normally informed him. Defense counsel asked at what time of the day you normally send money to the accused person. Witness said most times it was during day time. Defense counsel asked whether extra people were present during the time of the transaction. Witness said the only person was his wife. Defense counsel asks for the total alleged amount of money send to the accused person. The witness said it was forty five million Leones (Le 45,000,000/00).
I.T. Bangura represented the State while Lawyer Ibrahim Sorie Sankoh represented the accused person. Matter has been adjourned to the 5th May, 2021.