By: Audrey Raymonda John
The accused Mohamed Bangura alias Life Boat a business man was charged to court for three count offence of forgery of document, demanding money and other property on forged document and uttering a forged document all contrary to the forgery act 1913.
According to the particulars of offence on count one, on the 12th January, 2020 in Freetown, the accused with intent to defraud, forged certain document to wit an Agreement Deed purported to have been signed by Yang Wang.
Count 2 states that the accused demanded money and other property by virtue of forged document to wit Agreement Deed dated 12th January, 2020, knowing same to be forged.
Count 3 added that the accused forged certain document to wit an Agreement Deed dated 12th January, 2020 purported to have been signed by Yang Wang on behalf of Dalian Shenghai Ocean Fishing Company Sierra Leone Limited, knowing same to be forged.
The accused took no plea when he was arraigned.
Shortly after the first Prosecution witness Yang Wang took the witness stand and commenced his testimony, Defense Counsel Julian Cole objected for the witness to make comment on the Agreement Deed which was produced for identification, noting that the witness was not the rightful authority to produce the said document in Court.
Having heard that, Prosecutor ASP Dahlia E. Wellington interposes for a short adjournment for her to call another witness who might be the rightful witness to produce the said document in Court.
At this stage, Lawyer Cole requested bail for his Client citing section 79 of the Criminal procedure Act No.32 of 1965.
The learned Lawyer assured the Bench that the accused would not jump bail or interfere with Prosecution witnesses if bail was granted.
Magistrate Ngegba refused bail stating that he wants to hear the evidence before considering bail.
The matter was adjourned to Friday 28th April, 2023.