By: Audrey Raymonda John
Zainb Turay a nurse who became a victim on overseas Scam had took the witness stand and narrated how she and twelve others are duped by staff of the QR institution.
The witness was in court to prosecute the accused Hawa Kamara who posed as an intermediary for twelve people who paid their money to the Fraudsters.
Hawa Kamara was charged to court by the police for conspiracy to defraud , obtaining money by false pretenses and causing money to be paid contrary to law.
Led by Assistant Superintendent of police Osman Mohamed Bangura, the witness recognized the accused in the dock as a travel agent.
She said on diverse date between December 2021 and January 2022, her friend Aminata Thullah gave her information about one Mohamed Turay who is helping people to travel over sea.
The witness said upon receiving the information he questioned her friend about the authenticity of the program and her friend later gave her number to Mohamed Turay who called her to ascertain what she and Aminata Thullah discussed.
She said Mohamed Turay request for them to meet at Water Street with his friend Aminata Thullah and on arrival they were approached by someone who identified himself as Mohamed Turay.
The witness said they were taken to the office and she questioned him about the program which he responded that it is a global support unit. The witness said Mohamed Turay told them that the company is supporting people who want to travel overseas by paying sixty percent of what is needed whiles they (the witness are paying forty percent ).
Narrating further the witness said she was asked to pay the sum of nine million which she handed over to Mohamed Turay in the presence of his friend Aminata Thullah.
She said after paying the money, Mohamed Turay presented a form for her to choose the country she want to go and she chose Canada.
Explaining further, the witness said she requested for the form but Mohamed Turay said they have to use it to process her documents and told her he will contact her when they finish.
The witness said Mohamed Turay called her few date later and informed her that they had already finish with her but need other people who will benefit from the program too. She said she was given the list which she took to her brother and sister.
She said she then put him to Mohamed Turay has he should have finish with her before including other people, but he responded that this is a good chance to involve people.
The accused said she took her brother and sister to the office at Water Street where Mohamed Turay introduced accused Hawa Kamara as her working partner. She said her sister and brother paid the sum of twelve million Leones each to the accused Hawa Kamara which she handed over to Mohamed Turay.
She said her sister and brother fill a form but the receipt was never given to them because Mohamed Turay told them they have to use it to process their documents. She said later they were informed that the office has relocated to grassfield where they went and are received by the accused.
Upon reaching that point, magistrate ask the bench to take a date for continuation because according to him, the testimony is boring.
Defense Counsel AB Kamara said there are other witnesses who have to testify but the witness that was dock is trying to do that for the other which was bad.
In that light, the matter was adjourned to the 18th of November 2023 for the witness to continue her testimony.