By: Audrey John
Inspector Fatu Tarawalie attached to the breaking and larceny unit CID Headquarters yesterday 9th February 2022 testified before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba road court no.1 in Freetown against Michael Ruth Dunyaqueh Kamanda.
It was alleged by police that the accused conspired with other person’s unknown to defraud Sahid Swaid.
The accused was arraigned before the court on two counts of conspiracy contrary to law and embezzlement contrary to section 17(1)(b) of the larceny act 1916.
The charge sheet states that the accused on a date unknown between March and 30th September 2021 at Wilberforce Street in Freetown fraudulently embezzled the sum of four hundred and two million, two hundred and fifty-two thousand Leones received by her in account of Benco Trading Limited/ Fresh shop.
Led in evidence by Assistance of Police Christian Davies Cole Prosecution witness number two inspector Fatu Tarawalie attached to the legal and Justice Office, recognized the accused.
She recalled 30th September 2021as she was called by the complainant at Wilberforce Street and was asked by ASP Mondeh to render assistance to the complainant.
Tarawalie further that at the office of the complainant, they handed over to her two suspects; the accused and her colleague Adama Sesay whom she brought to the CID office for interrogation base on the complaint made by the complainant about misplacement of money at the office.
She said after the interrogation; both suspects were released to their sureties.
The witness further that on 6th October 2021 complainant arrived at the office and made a report against the accused and the matter was allocated to her for investigation.
She said statements were obtained from complainant and witness respectively and on the 7th October 2021 she arrested the accused and she was brought to the CID HQ.
She said on that same day, she interviewed the accused person by observing the judges rules and the voluntary caution statements of the accused was tender in court as exhibit A1-8 to form part of the Prosecution case.
The witness furthered that during the course of interrogating the accused, they had an intelligent that the accused was communicating with other workers through her mobile phone which she collected and present to the Cyber lab for forensic examination.
She further that on 5th November 2021, she sent a letter of request to the Cyber unit for an information of the phone and on 30th October 2021, she received forensic report from the Cyber unit and the said report was tender in court to form part of the Prosecution case.
The witness furthered states that on 24th November 2021, she charge the accused with the offence of conspiracy to defraud and embezzlement.
The charge statements were also tender in court.
The accused was represented by Charles .I. William who sought for an adjournment to cross examined the witness.
The accused is on bail and the matter adjourned to 22nd February 2021.