By: Audrey Raymonda John
Fifty-three years old Akim Bangura a business man made his first appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba road court No.2 in Freetown on a count of Obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of offence sometimes between the 1st to 28th February 2023 at Pademba road, Dwarzak Farm junction the western area in Freetown with intent to defraud obtained the sum of twenty thousand Leones (20,000) from Zainab Kamara by falsely pretending that he has a travelling program to Canada knowing same to be false.
When the charge was read and explained to the accused person he pleaded not guilty.
Assistant Superintendent of police Isatu Baba Musa Led prosecution witness number one Zainab Jalloh a business woman she came to know the accused person as a person who facilitates program for travelling to Canada.
She recalled on dates between 1st to 28th February 2023 something transpired between herself and the accused.
She met the accused at Benjamin Lane in the company of her friend Adama who told her that the accused facilitated a travel program for her.
She asked her to pay some money for a program to be done for her to travel to Canada, the accused asked her to pay $3000 in order to facilitate a travelling program for her.
She went home and brought NLe18,000 to the accused which he paid to him, he issued her a receipt the receipt was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records.
The witness said at another time, he gave the accused NLe500 which he issued receipt.
She produced and tendered it she later paid to the accused person the sum of 1500 which he issued receipt to her.
The said receipt was also produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records the receipt were marked as exhibit A1, B1 and C1 respectively.
The witness further stated that herself and the accused person made agreement the said agreement was produce and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as exhibit D1-3 the accused person told her that after two months two weeks her daughter would travel to Canada.
Her daughter never travelled, the accused person stopped communicating with her and he refused answering her calls.
She then reported the matter to the police the witness said one day she saw the accused walking along New England Ville police station She went to the station called one officer who came out and arrested the accused person she later made statement to the police.
The accused person was unrepresented by legal counsel he did cross examined the witness.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Bangura refused bail and sent the accused person to the male correctional facility in Freetown matter to the 24th June 2024.
