By Audrey John
After she was allegedly duped the sum of $4,500 USD, to facilitate her travel overseas, Gloria Conteh on Monday 28th March 2022, in a preliminary investigation, testified against Ibrahim Kamara who was charged with regards the allegation.
Police alleged that the accused person, Kamara, on a date unknown between the month of December 2020 and August 2021 in Freetown, conspired together with other person’s unknown to defraud Gloria Conteh on the pretext that he will facilitate her travel to Belgium, knowing same to be false.
The accused, Ibrahim Kamara is faced with two counts charges of conspiracy to defraud contrary to law, and obtaining money by false pretences contrary to Section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
Testifying before Magistrate Sahr Kekura, the victim and prosecution witness, Gloria Conteh said she recognized the accused person in the dock.
Conteh recalled that on a date between the 20th December 2020 and August 2021, a certain lady, Aunty Kadie introduced her to the accused in respect of visa facilitation to Belgium.
Conteh continued that the accused requested for the Le 10,500,000 which she made available.
She added that on the 14th December 2020, the accused also requested for Le 21,400,000 which she also made available and handed over to the accused. Conteh mentioned that her mother spoke to the accused on the phone and he confirmed receiving same.
She furthered that on the 20th August 2021, her mother called to say the accused had requested for Le 15, 450,000, adding that the accused collected the sum and also spoke to her mother in respect of the sum he had collected.
The witness revealed that on the 13th October 2021, the accused showed up at her premise with a brown envelope which he said the accused told her contained documents which she will use to travel to Belgium.
Conteh told the Court that on the 15th October 2021, she went to Guinea where she was told she will use as transit to Belgium, but when she reached Guinea.
Aunty Kadie told her that she should travel to Senegal but was also referred to Ivory Coast where she should submit her documents for the processing of her visa, noting that she bought ticket to Ivory Coast as a cost of $280 dollars.
Conteh said she paid a visa fees of $150 dollars at the Belgium Embassy at Ivory Coast for the visa to be sent to Freetown via DHL, while she bought a return ticket to Freetown at a cost of 400 Pounds.
The witness and victim later told the Court that she later got a call from DHL that they had a package for her. “When I opened it, I saw papers which are not my visa, after I had paid the sum of Le 5, 90,000 as visa fee” she revealed.
The accused is on bail. Corporal Zainab Bangura with force number 12090 prosecuted the matter.
Magistrate Sahr Kekura has adjourned the matter to the 6th April 2022.
