By: Audrey Raymonda John
Gbassay Sesay a businesswoman and Momoh Sesay a businessman made their first appearance before Magistrate Peter Brima Gogra of Pademba road court No.6 in Freetown on two count charges to wit Conspiracy contrary to law and Obtaining money by false pretences contrary to section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence on the 6th October 2022 at Syke Street, the western area in Freetown conspired together and with other persons unknown to commit a felony to wit obtaining money by false pretences.
On count, two of the accused persons on the said date and place with intent to defraud obtained the sum of the fifteen thousand Leones (15,000) from Ibrahim Bailor Sankoh by falsely pretending that you shall facilitate his travelling to Canada knowing the same to be false.
The charges were read and explained to the accused person and they pleaded not guilty.
Inspector Mohamed Kamara led Prosecution witness number one Ibrahim Bailor Sankoh a Civil servant working at the Ministry of Energy as an Office assistant said he recognized the first accused person as his girlfriend.
He came to know the second accused person through the first accused person.
He recalls on the 6th of October 2022, the first accused person informed him that she has travelled to Canada at that time they were communicating with a foreign number he asked the first accused person to assist him and she told him that she will forward the number of the manager which is the second accused person.
The witness said he called the 2nd accused person and he asked him to meet him at his office at Skye Street.
He went there and he told him that the name of the company is Global Support Agency and he told him that he will help him to get a work visa.
He purchased a farm at five million Leones on the 14th of December 2022.
The second accused person gave him a form which he completed.
He took pictures of the form he developed it into card.
The form was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records.
On the next day the second accused person asked him to pay the sum of ten million Leones he gave the second accused person the sum of five million Leones receipt wasn’t issued to him a few days later he came to the said office and give three million Leones to the second accused person and later completed it with the remaining two million Leones to the total sum of fifteen million Leones.
The witness said the second accused person told him that he has to attend four monthly interviews on the 6th of October 2022 and he told him that he also has to start training on the 7th of October 2022.
The witness said he underwent the training for four months and nothing like travel was mentioned.
He came to the second accused person to refund his money he didn’t give him his money he went to the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters CID and made a statement.
Counsel representing the accused persons C. Kaja applied for bail for and on behalf of the accused person that they’re Sierra Leonean residents within this jurisdiction that they have reliable sureties who are willing and ready to go into recognizance on their behalf, they will not interfere with prosecution witness or witnesses.
He made his application pursuant to section 79 3 of the Criminal Procedure Act No.32 of 1965.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Gogra refused bail and sent the accused person to the male correctional centre in Freetown matter was adjourned to the 24th of April 2023.