April 16, 2021
By: Francis F.M.Harding
A motor mechanic at Willington in Freetown, Mohamed Alieu Turay was in court as Police Prosecution Witness to testify in a matter involving Mohamed Bangura, Foday Lansana, Abu Bakarr Marah, and David Vandy Mansaray. The accused persons were arraigned in court before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Magistrate Court No.1 in Freetown on the 15th April, 2021.
Mohamed Bangura and three others were arraigned in court on a count charge to defraud contrary to the Laws of Sierra Leone.
According to the case file, the accused persons on 21st January, 2019 at No. 330 Bai Bureh Road Calaba Town conspired together with other persons unknown to defraud Mohamed Aliue Turay the sum of five million, six hundred thousand Leones (Le 5,600,000/00). In counts two, the accused persons obtaining money by false pretense contrary to the Laws of Sierra Leone.
Testifying in court, the witness said he knew the accused persons. He added that the accused persons promised him of a secured job abroad and later they gave him contract letter that bears Qnet logo. The witness said second accused person asked him for his next of kin. He continued that the 2nd accused person raised his hope that the witness has secured a job that will earn him two thousand dollars monthly. He said all the accused persons at that time told him to leave his present job as a motor mechanic which I did. The accused persons further told him to bring along two witnesses, but the witness said he was able to present one person, which was his younger brother.
The witness dilated that one of the accused persons told him to pay for his brother the sum of six million one hundred and fourty thousand Leones (Le 6, 140, 000, 00). After meeting with all the necessary demands from the accused persons, the witness said that there was no headway in the said program and that any time he will visit the Qnet office no one will talk to him. He said because of such behavior he decided to take the issue to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) Police Station, at the cline town branch to make a statement.
During cross examination, the witness said because he not lettered no documents was read to him by the accused persons.
ASP Andrew Kumber represented the State while Lawyer Bozzie Kamara represented the accused persons. Matter has been adjourned to the 22nd April, 2021.