By: Audrey John
38yrs old James Kamara a information technology Expert made his first appearance before Magistrate Sahr Keikura of Pademba road court No.1 in Freetown on two count charges to wit Forgery of document contrary to section 4 (1) of the Forgery Act of 1913 and uttering forged document contrary to section 6 (1) (2) of the forgery Act of 1913.
According to the particulars of offence on the 9th May 2022 at No.29 Goderich Street at “Med Simmer Cafe the western area in Freetown with intent to defraud forged certain documents to wit on republic of Sierra Leone birth certificate No:W/p71364, Original Bc/2003 with serial number 03241 dated 21st May 2016, purporting that it was prepared and signed by the chief registrar, Ministry of health and Sanitation Sierra Leone.
On count two at the same place and date with intent to forged the said birth certificate knowing same to have been forged.
Prosecution witness number 1 Alhaji S N One Civil servant attached to the directorate of National civil registration office he is the Deputy director of the said office he did the verification of both death and birth certificate and other administrative functions in the office.
He said he knows the accused person in this matter.
He recalled on the 11th May 2022 he was in his office when he had a knock on his door and he allowed him in.
He called Abubakar Rashid Sesay to verify his birth certificate, he observed some abnormalities, one was the stamp, signature was not from any staff of his office and the number written in red was abnormal and the birth certificate was without volume number and the birth certificate itself was made for under one year old child, it carried two stamps which supposed to have one stamp.
He asked the said Abubakar Rashid Sesay were he got the birth certificate from and he gave him information that he bought it from Goderich Street.
He asked if he can identify the person that gave the birth certificate to him he said yes and he asked him if he paid for it, Abubakar Rashid Sesay said yes and he ask him to sit and he invite the officer that was attached to the said office he interview him and they went to the said Goderich street where he got the birth certificate.
The officer returned with the accused person the witness said himself, the police the accused person and the said Abubakar Rashid Sesay went to the director.
The director questioned the accused person in his presence the accused person and he was taken to the Criminal Investigations Department Pademba road Freetown.
The birth certificate was handed over to the police the alleged fraud birth certificate was produced in court for identification it was marked as Z.
Statement was obtained from him and he showed the original birth certificate to the police station.
He said the stamp on the original and the stamp on the fake birth certificate was not the same. The sample of the original birth certificate was produce in court and marked as exhibit A.
Cross examination by defense counsel M.M Tejan you were not present on what transpired on the 9th the witness said his is not aware.
You cannot tell that he forged the document the witness said he can tell because the accused person admitted that he issued the birth certificate and he signed it but he denied stamping the said birth certificate.
Did you have records that he denied signing the birth certificate?
The witness said he has witness, the director of births and death, the police officers and other people in the office, the admission was not done in an open.
The witness said it was in the open and these other people you cannot recognize them the witness said he cannot recognize them.
To your knowledge did the director or the police officer made statement to the police, you told the court that you questioned the accused person and he didn’t tell you under what circumstances he issued it, he concluded
Counsel applied for bail for and on behalf of the accused person pursuant to section 79 sub section 2 of the Criminal procedure Act No.32 of 1965.
He has reliable and credible sureties who are willing and ready to enter into recognizance on his behalf.
He will not jumped bail nor will he interfere with prosecution witness or witnesses.
However, Magistrate Keikura refused bail and sent the accused person to the male correctional center in Freetown matter adjourned to 27th May 2022.
