By: Audrey Raymonda John
A 34-year-old bike rider, Alimamy Kargbo, also known as Martin, has been remanded in custody after making another appearance before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah at the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1 on a charge of conspiracy to commit a crime, contrary to law.
According to the charge sheet, between 26 January 2023 and 25 July 2023, at No. 11 Beckley Lane, Brookfields, Freetown, the accused, with intent to defraud, conspired with other persons unknown and obtained the sum of One Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand Leones (NLe 175,000) from Ansu Sesay. He falsely represented that he owned two town lots of land situated at Mile Thirteen (13), knowing the claim to be false.
The prosecution’s second witness, Detective Police Sergeant 11701 Ibrahim Koroma of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, testified that on 25 July 2023, he was on duty when the complainant reported a case of fraud, accompanied by his witnesses.
He told the court that on the same date, he and Detective Sergeant 9959 Thorley M obtained a voluntary caution statement from the complainant. The complainant was cautioned and questioned in Krio, after which the statement was read back and explained to him. He admitted it to be true and correct. Detective Sergeant Thorley M signed as the recorder, while the witness signed as an attesting officer. The statement was tendered in court and marked as Exhibits B1–B11.
The witness further testified that on 29 July 2023, he and Detective Sergeant Thorley M cautioned and questioned the accused in Krio, with the statement recorded in English. The accused admitted the statement to be true and correct by appending his right-hand thumbprint. The statement was tendered as evidence.
On 30 July 2023, the accused was formally charged with conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money by false pretences. He was again cautioned and questioned in Krio, admitted the statement, and thumb-printed it. Detective Sergeant Thorley M signed as the recorder, while the witness signed as an attesting officer.
Defense counsel applied for a short adjournment to allow for proper consultation with the accused.
Magistrate Jah granted the application, ordered that the accused be remanded in custody, and adjourned the matter to 14 January 2026 for cross-examination.