By: Audrey. R. John
Former Magistrate of Pademba Road Court No.2 in Freetown, Mark Ngegba has been charged with the responsibility to hear the matter of Chief Abdul Wahab Kargbo commonly known as ‘Capitalist’ and three others including Michael Tunde Williams, Moses Osman Sesay and Neo Sesay a Sierra Leonean lady resident in South Africa.
The accused persons were alleged to have conspired and obtained money from the complainant, a Turkish, Francesco Rodolfos Palacious. The matter came up at the said court on the 10th February, 2021.
They were arraigned before the then Magistrate of Court No.1, Hannah Bonnie (now Judge of the High Court) sometimes last year for Preliminary Investigation for conspiracy and obtaining money by fraudulent means.
It was alleged that they conspired with other persons unknown to dupe Complainant the sum of one hundred and three thousand United State dollars equivalent to one billion, three hundred million Leones for thirty five kilograms of gold.
During Preliminary Investigation before former Magistrate Bonnie, she granted bail to Neo Sesay as she was a lactating mother.
The matter has been between lawyers Hindolo Gavao representing Neo Sesay and State Counsel I.T Bangura Esq.
All four accused persons promised to pay back what was due the Complainant but at the end, only Osman Sesay and Neo Sesay complied.
Failing to comply, the first and second accused persons, Chief Abdul Wahab Kargbo aka Capitalist and Michael Tunde Williams were prosecuted by the complainant.
Taking the witness stand, Complainant explained before the new Magistrate Mark Ngegba how he met and negotiated a deal for all the accused persons to buy and ship to him in South Africa thirty five kilograms of gold which turned out to be a scam.
At the end of his testimony, counsel defending first accused persons, Michael Tunde Williams, C. Campbell informed the Bench that he will like the court to show videos that Complainant produce in court during his examination in chief, as they may be necessary for questioning.
Responding to the defence, State Counsel J.S Tucker said those evidence are with the Information Technology department and that during Complainant testimony they are constrained to get the materials to produce them.
Replying to questions put to Complainant about some monies shown on the videos, he responded that monies in Sierra Leone notes were sent to him through WhatsApp before he came to Freetown.
The witness (Complainant) further stated that he transited from Guinea to Sierra Leone with the sum of fifty three thousand United State dollars.
“My lord I have an agreement with second accused, Chief Abdul Wahab Kargbo aka Capitalist for first accused Michael Tunde Williams,” he said.
In cross examination by Defence Counsel for the second accused Hindolo Gavao disclosed that he gave client five hundred dollars based on the advice given to him by first accused that it is customary to see a chief.
At the end of cross examination, the matter was adjourned to Monday 15th of February 2021.
February 11, 2021
By: Audrey. R. John
Former Magistrate of Pademba Road Court No.2 in Freetown, Mark Ngegba has been charged with the responsibility to hear the matter of Chief Abdul Wahab Kargbo commonly known as ‘Capitalist’ and three others including Michael Tunde Williams, Moses Osman Sesay and Neo Sesay a Sierra Leonean lady resident in South Africa.
The accused persons were alleged to have conspired and obtained money from the complainant, a Turkish, Francesco Rodolfos Palacious. The matter came up at the said court on the 10th February, 2021.
They were arraigned before the then Magistrate of Court No.1, Hannah Bonnie (now Judge of the High Court) sometimes last year for Preliminary Investigation for conspiracy and obtaining money by fraudulent means.
It was alleged that they conspired with other persons unknown to dupe Complainant the sum of one hundred and three thousand United State dollars equivalent to one billion, three hundred million Leones for thirty five kilograms of gold.
During Preliminary Investigation before former Magistrate Bonnie, she granted bail to Neo Sesay as she was a lactating mother.
The matter has been between lawyers Hindolo Gavao representing Neo Sesay and State Counsel I.T Bangura Esq.
All four accused persons promised to pay back what was due the Complainant but at the end, only Osman Sesay and Neo Sesay complied.
Failing to comply, the first and second accused persons, Chief Abdul Wahab Kargbo aka Capitalist and Michael Tunde Williams were prosecuted by the complainant.
Taking the witness stand, Complainant explained before the new Magistrate Mark Ngegba how he met and negotiated a deal for all the accused persons to buy and ship to him in South Africa thirty five kilograms of gold which turned out to be a scam.
At the end of his testimony, counsel defending first accused persons, Michael Tunde Williams, C. Campbell informed the Bench that he will like the court to show videos that Complainant produce in court during his examination in chief, as they may be necessary for questioning.
Responding to the defence, State Counsel J.S Tucker said those evidence are with the Information Technology department and that during Complainant testimony they are constrained to get the materials to produce them.
Replying to questions put to Complainant about some monies shown on the videos, he responded that monies in Sierra Leone notes were sent to him through WhatsApp before he came to Freetown.
The witness (Complainant) further stated that he transited from Guinea to Sierra Leone with the sum of fifty three thousand United State dollars.
“My lord I have an agreement with second accused, Chief Abdul Wahab Kargbo aka Capitalist for first accused Michael Tunde Williams,” he said.
In cross examination by Defence Counsel for the second accused Hindolo Gavao disclosed that he gave client five hundred dollars based on the advice given to him by first accused that it is customary to see a chief.
At the end of cross examination, the matter was adjourned to Monday 15th of February 2021.
