By: Audrey Raymonda John
The accused persons, Bai Bangura and others are before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No.1 for preliminary hearings after investigation for allegedly defrauding complainant Isatu Bangura the sum of thirty million Leones (Le 30,000.000) for a travelling programs to Canada Knowing same to be false.
Shortly before his application was refused yesterday, the mother of complainant Kadiatu Bangura recognized first accused as her neighbor.
She said on Friday 30th of July 2023, complainant Fatmata Bangura informed her about a program owned by first accused to travel to Canada. She said upon receiving the information she called first accused confirmed same.
Mother of complainant said first accused told her that he has helped his brother Lamin Bangura who is now living in France. She said first accused further told her that the Registration fee is three thousand Leones which she paid.
She said on the 5th July she gave the sum of ten thousand Leones to complainant Fatmata Bangura and instructed her to go and pay to the first accused and after payment first accused confirmed same.
Explaining further, the second witness said on the 10th of July 2023, she and complainant went to Sayenor and made final payment of twenty thousand Leones to the first accused and first accused handed the money to second accused in their presence.
She also told the court that first accused told complainant’s daughter to start attending computer classes at Sayenor which she did, but later complainant informed her that what they are teaching them is quite different from what they are were expecting. The mother of complainant said on that note she reported the matter at Ross Road police station, harbored division.
Testing the evidence of PW2, by defense counsel DB Stack, complainant confirmed knowing first accused person.
In another question put to her as to whether she was aware that during the transaction there were videos, she responded in the negative. Complainant said during the transaction they were not issued a receipt.
At the end of cross examination, defense counsel DB Stack renewed his application for bail by citing the previous grounds.
His application was refused by Magistrate Kekura on the grounds that there are barraged of similar case of this nature before him.
The matter was adjourned to the 24th of August 2023.
Bail was refused on all the other fraud matter defending by Lawyer DB Stack with the accused ordered to be remanded at the male correctional center.