By: Audrey Raymonda John
Mohamed Bah, an auxiliary staff member at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, appeared again before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown. He faces five counts including conspiracy to commit a felony, forgery, uttering a forged survey plan, trespass, and obtaining money by false pretenses, contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, on 13th February 2025, at the Ministry of Lands, Youyi Building, Bah allegedly conspired with unknown individuals to commit forgery.
Count Two states that he forged a survey site plan, intending to defraud, by presenting it as an authentic document.
Count Three alleges he uttered the forged plan with LS Number 313/25 for 1.1090 acres of private land located at Kotopema Macdonald, off Peninsular Road, Freetown, property of Mr. Sheku Jawara and Mrs. Isata Selvine Jawara, knowing it to be false.
Count Four claims that on 3rd January 2025, Bah unlawfully trespassed on state land at Kotopema Macdonald, despite prior warnings not to do so.
Count Five alleges that between 1st and 6th January 2025, at Bar Junction, Goderich, Bah obtained Le17,000 from Mr. Sheku Jawara under false pretenses, claiming he would conduct a proper land survey and prepare an accurate site plan in the names of Mr. and Mrs. Jawara.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused, no plea was taken.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Juan M.S. Bull, prosecuting the case, concluded examination of Prosecution Witness No. 1, Abraham Cooper, Deputy Director of Surveys at the Ministry of Lands.
Cooper tendered two documents in court: The alleged original survey plan bearing the name Derrick Obioseh, and An allegedly forged plan bearing the names of Sheku Jawara and Isata Susan Jawara, both with the same LS Number (313/25).
He testified that the original plan was signed on behalf of the Director of Surveys and that the land listed is recorded as being located at Peninsular Road, York, confirming it is in their official records.
Cooper described the forged plan as being for a different location Kotopema Macdonald yet bearing the same LS number, which he deemed highly unethical and “criminal.” He explained that such acts are against the code of conduct of the Ministry and that the matter was escalated to both the Minister and Deputy Minister of Lands, who viewed the situation with seriousness. He noted that the Minister, as Chairman of Surveys and Plans, was particularly concerned about the public perceiving him as complicit due to such misconduct within the ministry.
During cross-examination, Cooper confirmed that: He is a staff member of the Ministry; he recognizes the accused as an auxiliary staff member who supports payroll employees; auxiliary staff are supervised by their immediate supervisors, although he could not identify Bah’s direct superior.
He clarified that the accused is not under his direct supervision, and that while auxiliary staff are essential, their roles are not autonomous.
The matter was adjourned to 24th June 2025 for further hearing.