November 9, 2021
By: Audrey John
Juliet Nazal has on the 8th November, 2021 granted bail yesterday in the sum of five hundred million Leones with two sureties in like sum.
She appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Court No 1 and remanded at the female Correctional center for allegedly defrauding Samson Shallop the sum of one billion three hundred and fourteen million leones.
It was alleged on the charge sheet in count on that on Wednesday 13th October 2021, at Zenith Bank Headquarters, Rawdon Street, knowingly issued a Zenith Bank cheque dated 13th October 2021 with serial number 1474415 with face value of one billion three hundred and fourteen million leones ( Le 1, 314,000,000) to complainant Samson Shallop against insufficient fund.
In count two, the accused on that same date and place issued a cheque to complainant with face value one hundred and sixty two million Leone (Le 162, 000, 00) to complainant against insufficient fund.
In count three, the accused was alleged to have prepare and endorsed deposit slip with serial number 2487321 with face value of one billion three hundred and fourteen million leones that the same has been paid to an account number 6010181380 knowing same to be false.
In count four, the accused induced Dauda Soriba Kamara to prepare slip with serial number 2487319 with face value of one billion three hundred and fourteen million leones to an account number 6010120551 knowing same to be false.
After the charges have been read on the last adjourned date, State prosecutor Juan Bull informed the court that her witness is present but cannot go on. She said she has filed an affidavit in support of denying bail.
Rise from the bar, defense counsel IF Sawaneh applied for bail for his client citing section 79 of the Criminal Procedure Act No 32 of 1965. He said bail is the discretion of the Bench and pleaded with the Magistrate to grant the request.
Having heard the application of bail and the affidavit filed by the state thereof, magistrate Kekura said defense counsel cited the wrong application.
Based on the seriousness of the offense, he refused the accused bail and adjourned the matter to the 4th of November, 2021 for hearings to commence.
The matter which supposed to come up on the 4th of November 2021 did not proceed because of the fracas that took place at the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Shortly after the matter was mentioned yesterday, state counsel Juan Bull informed the court that she is not going on because her witness was absent. She promised to dock her first witness on the next adjourned date.
In that light , another defense counsel H.M Gevao applied for bail on behalf of the accused citing section 79 Act No.32 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965.
He said the accused is not before the court for treason neither for murder, and if granted bail will not be flight risk. He said the accused has permanent resident with reliable persons to stand as sureties and ensure her appearance in court.
Responding to defense counsel, state counsels Juan Bull vehemently object to the bail application for the accused person. She said the matter is serious with an allegation of over one billion Leone. State counsel Juan Bull also stated that the quantum money involved is huge and she will do all she can to prosecute the matter.
After listening to both sides, magistrate Sahr Kekura granted the accused bail in sum of five hundred million leones with two sureties in like sum. The sureties should be title owner, employed in a recognized institution. Magistrate Sahr Kekura further stated that the sureties should produce their national identification cards depicting their address and that their bail should be approved by the Deputy Acting Registrar.
The matter was adjourned to the 22nd of November 2021 for the prosecution to commence.