By: Audrey Raymonda John
Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court has revealed that no complainant is happy with a bench granting bail without their consent. Magistrate Kekura made this revelation during court proceedings on Thursday 5th October, 2023 when he rescinded the first accused bail Theresa Kargbo.
He rescinded Theresa’s bail because he laughed at the complainant, Yai Borbor Jabbie on the last hearing within the court precinct. Theresa Kargbo, Vandy Sesay and Eleanor Kawa arraigned before the court for allegedly conspiring with unknown persons to obtain a hopping sum of sixty-two thousand leones (NLe62,000) or sixty-two million old leones from the complainants, Yai Borbor Jabbie and Kemoh Jabbie by falsely pretending that they would facilitate their travelling to Canada knowing same to be false.
The accused appeared before the court on two counts charges of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretenses contrary to law.
It was alleged by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) that the accused, on diverse dates between 18th April and 30th June 2023 at Allen Town in Freetown, obtained NLe 62,000 from the complainants by false pretending that they would facilitate their travellings to Canada knowing same to be false.
Magistrate Kekura had earlier granted two hundred thousand leones (NLe200,000) or two hundred million old leones bail to the first accused and two others, with two sureties in like sum. The bail was approved by the Deputy Master and Registrar. Magistrate Kekura rescinded the first accused bail and bail of the second and third accused remains in force.
The first prosecution witness (PW) Yai Borbor Jabbie, who had earlier started testified told the court that she recognised the accused and could recall the days in question.
Yai Borbor said the first accused instructed to come to Freetown on the said dates. She said before she left Bo City for Freetown, the first accused, Theresa Kargbo gave her sister’s contact and instructed her to call her when she arrived in Freetown.
PW 1 said the second told her that she had travelling to Liberia, adding that when she arrived Ojuku Allen Town the second accused, Vandy Sesay, led her to their office situated at Allen Town Old Road in Freetown. “Upon our arrival, I paid fifteen thousand leones or fifteen million old leones (Le15,000,000) to the second accused. When we proceeded to the office, I saw the first who introduced me to the second and other people managers of the said office,” complainant explained.
The witness said she was questioned by the second accused and assured her of traveling to Canada.
Having paying money to them, she said one of the managers told her that the money was not enough and she explained same to mother, whose name was not mentioned. She said later her sister, Isata Fofanah send ten thousand leones (NLe10,000,000) via Orange Money. In turn she said she handed over the money to the accused in the said office.
The witness said told the court that one of the managers told her that she had to undergo a month training before she would eventually travelling to Canada. On the following day, she went on the first accused led her to their office at the same address in Allentown in Freetown.
She said at the office, she met some people for the same travelling programme, disclosing as the training continued, she said the first accused told her that they had two empty spaces and asked to bring two of her relatives. Upon receipt of the information, she said she called two of her relatives, Kemoh Jabbie and another. Kemoh who was residing in Guinea.
She said Kemoh and another relative paid twenty-eight thousand leones or (NLe28,000,000).
She said when the realized that the traveling didn’t right, they asked the accused to refund their money which they failed to do so.
“Being that my cousin was piling pressure on them to return to Guinea, the manager of the company refunded ten thousand leones to him.
Subsequently, she said she saw the first accused at Allentown and choked her and was taken to the Allentown Police Post in Freetown.
She said while she was earlier testified in court, the second accused was standing by the court’s window and Magistrate Kekura ordered his arrest and the second and third accused were apprehended on the same day and taken to the Ross Road Police Station, where she made a statement.
Defence counsel, Abubakar S. Conteh deferred cross examination, but the first accused’s bail was rescinded while the second and third bail remains in force. The matter was adjourned to 13th October, 2023 for cross examination by defence counsel. Sergeant 9874 Memunatu Monica Turay is prosecuting the matter.
