By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
Justice Glenna Thompson has on the 15th June 2022 testified before Justice Cosmostina Jarriett of the High Court in Freetown.
The Prosecution Witness in her testimony with Chief State Counsel Mr. A.G.M Bockarie Esq identified all accused persons.
She said the first accused was her Personal driver since 2018 and the second accused as a pump attendant at MP Campbell Street and the third accused person also being a pump attendant at the said M.P station at Campbell St.
She continued her testimony describing the car she owned a Prado Toyota with registration number AFP186 at the time the accused was driving in 2020 before owning her official car being the same Prado but the newer version with registration number API479 white in color.
She said AFP186 uses Petrol and API479 uses Diesel.
The witness also said that she own a government issued account and for the private car an account at MP Campbell Street Fuel Station as she said she pumps her cars full tank along with her generator which she seldom use and at the end of the month settle the bill.
Justice Glenna Thompson said the first accused being the driver does the refueling of the vehicles as for the Fuel Station at Walpole Street she gave the driver a note to take at Walpole Street and the official vehicle which she said she uses is filled and will only go to MP Campbell Street if she had exhausted her quota at Walpole Street.
She said the private car is seldom use on Sunday’s for church service if not it is unlikely to be fuel.
She also said that the proprietor at MP Campbell Street lives closer to her as she normally gives the amount of fuel she will request and will fill her container and later pay the bills.
She said AFP186 uses 87litred and has no spare tank whilst API479 the official vehicle uses 87litres but has a spare tank of 67litres.
She furthermore said that AFP186 is seldom used by Mr. King who she described as her partner.
She said she received a bill of 6 million Leones earlier in October 2021 and another bill of 8million Leones and cleared it in September approaching November and in November again another bill for 11million Leones when she said she left it on her dressing table and Mr. King saw the bill and cleared the bill.
She went on to say that she left the shores of Sierra Leone in December 2021 but on the 3rd January 2022 she was informed by Mr. King that she has a bill of 25Million Leones.
“My First instinct was that it was a mistake or an error or perhaps the Station had not added the past payment” she continued that she spoke to Mr Tego (MP proprietor) who was the proprietor and they both lived from each other’s house and for Mr. Tego to give him a breakdown of the accumulative bill of 25Million when she travelled out of the country.
The witness said she then realized that the money had been paid for the previous debts but that AFP186 had apparently taken 90litres on the same day which exceeded the vehicle capacity and then was on a video call with Mr. King when the First accused person came into the room and the camera was filtered to the first accused and asked him in krio “Usai u go so wae u consume 25Million fuel, we go upline? (They went to the interior) and the accused also responded in Krio “No ma na Freetong! (No we were in Freetown).
She said she further questioned him as to why he took fuel as she said Mr.King was unaware that the vehicle had been taken for fuel but that the accused said in Krio “No ma na 60litres are take for make the tank full” (No we took only 60 litres of fuel) said the accused person.
She then again said to the accused that he took 90litres of Fuel and the accused she said replied “yes ma I forgot” and then he left their presence.
She said she continued her conversation with Mr. King that she had been scammed and was going to report to the police and told Mr. King not to dismiss the first accused but that he should continue working till investigations are properly conducted and not to be made aware of the investigations.
The witness added that she then requested for all the Bin cards to be sent to her in June 2022 and said by her calculations she found out that she had been defrauded about 84Million Leones and upon this she decided not to come back early for her health and peace of mind.
Justice Glenna Thompson described herself as a private person and has a close circle of friends and that the first accused had the facade if being helpful, well-mannered and soft spoken and people liked him.
She said her Analogy that she would use in describing the accused is that of an abuser and a betrayal and that underneath the facade was someone who had scammed her the sum of 84Million in 18Months and that she did everything for the accused and his family especially the child as she buys her cereal and whenever she travels out of the country she will shop for the child and whenever the accused worked late paid him equivalent to his salary.
The Prosecution Witness was given Exhibit B1-7 to identify which was the bin card and they contained what she took as fuel supply.
Throughout the cross examination of the Exhibit was asked on diverse dates of fuel accounted for that she said most of it she never took it but was billed in her account.
Cross examination by defense counsel for the first accused inquired of the Prosecution Witness if she had notified the fueling station of the scam.
She replied that she did not but gave instructions to the first accused before travelling.
She said she was also not aware of the fraud per say as she just thought her bill was too high and had to investigate as she said if she was aware at the time he wouldn’t be driving her and would have been dealt with last year.
She said the first accused had benefited a lot from her as she said at the time the first accused had no place to sleep her brother then gave him a place free of charge where he resides with his family, she described the first accused again as an abuser and betrayal of trust.
C. Campbell Esq for the Second and third accused renewed his application for bail for the accused persons.
Justice Jarrett however refused granting the application made by defense counsel C. Campbell Esq based on the evidences of the matter and that she will not grant bail to accused persons nor entertain any application for bail till the end of the matter.
The matter has been adjourned to the 20th June 2022 for further hearing and for the Prosecution to close its case. All accused persons remanded.
