June 18, 2021
By: Francis F.M.Harding
The First Police Witness Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Fayia Jonny Walker attached to the finance department who is in charge of the safe at the Sierra Leone Police Headquarters George Street, Freetown. He appeared before Magistrate Sahr Keikura of Court No 1 in Freetown on the 16th June, 2021 at the Pademba Court in a fraudulent conversion matter.
According to police charged sheets, the accused person is charged with one count of fraudulent conversion. It is alleged in count one that the accused person on the 23rd July, 2020 at the Sierra Leone Police Headquarters, George Street Freetown fraudulently converted to his own use or benefit certain amount of money, the sum of one hundred and sixty thousand United States Dollars ($160,000\00) equivalent to one billion seven hundred million Leones (Le1, 700,000,000/00) entrusted to him by Mohamed Abu Brima Jah for the delivery of temporal property to the Sierra Leone Police in his custody.
Testifying in court the First Police Witness (PW1) ASP Fayia Jonny Walker, said he recognized the accused person as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in the Sierra Leone Police. He continued to say that sometimes in July, 2020 the accused person told him that he was sent by the Assistant Inspector General of Police Brima Jah with $60,000 United States Dollars in a briefcase. He explained that he told the accused person to open it and to take each of serial numbers so that he will sign and the accused person will sign. He said that whenever the AIG asks for the money he will produce it.
He continued to say that the accused person left his office with the $60,000 United States Dollars to his own office at the Central Police station in Freetown.
The witness said that the accused person leaves his office from two to six he did not see him return. He said he later send somebody to him by the name of Bendu.
He said later the accused person called him and he told him that he was handling an issue and he will come with the money the next day. He said he did not see him and he later called the accused person and asked him what happen. He said the accused person answered him don’t worry the matter has been settled. The witness said he went to AIG Brima Jah and informed him about what has transpired between him and the accused person. The witness said two weeks later he was called to report at Complaints Discipline and Internal Investigations Department (CDIID) to make statement. He said he went at the CDIID to make statement.
Under cross examination, defense Lawyer M.N. Kamara asked the witness how long he has been in the Sierra Leone Police. Witness said 33years. Defense lawyer asked him if he knows the complainant. Witness said he do not know him.
Defense counsel asked the witness if the accused person went with any document for him to sign. Witness no sir. Defense counsel asked the witness that if he working at the finance department to show his designation. Witness said he is in charge of the safe to keep exhibit. Defense counsel asked him if he has any immediate boss at the finance department of the Sierra Leone Police. Witness said yes.
Defense counsel canvassed for bail from the Magistrate.
The Magistrate refused bail. from or the accused person. The matter has been adjourned to the 18th June, 2021.