By: Audrey Raymonda John
In the ongoing alleged overseas fraud matter before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No. 1, Sorie Turay has narrated how his son and two others were camped after been lured to pay the sum of fifty-five million Leone through the accused John Sullay Kamara.
John Sullay Kamara is before the court for preliminary hearings after police investigation for defrauding complainant Sorie Turay by falsely pretending that he will help facilitate the traveling program of his son and two others.
Led in his examination in chief by Assistant Superintendent of Police Osman Mohamed Bangura Complainant Sorie Turay residing at No. 5 Conteh Street Magboraka recognized the accused person.
He said between 1st September and 30th September 2022, he was at Makeni when the accused requested to see him and on arrival the accused told him he has a program for his brother to go to Canada.
Complainant said the accused John Sullay Kamara requested for the sum of fifteen million Leones. He said the accused came to Freetown and after a month called and informed him that he has travelled to Canada.
Complainant said the accused send photos to ascertain he has travelled and informed him about another program which he said he will help his son Umaru Turay to travel to Canada in order to complete his education.
He said the accused requested for the birthday certificate and Basic Education Certificate Exam result for submission and further told him that the results were out, and he will receive a call from Freetown.
He said after one week he received a call from a lady call Fatmata Sheriff informing him that his son has successfully won the scholarship to Canada. He said the lady told him that the total amount he has to pay is up to seventy million but presently he should pay the sum of five million Leones to do the documentation in Freetown. Complainant said arriving in Freetown, he paid the money to Fatmata Sheriff at Jabbie Street, Calaba Town but she did not give him receipt.
Explaining further, complainant said the lady directed him to another office at Bai Bureh Road where he should pay the remaining money. Complainant said after a week he raised the sum of ten million Leones and came along with his son to pay the money after which the lady told them to go and prepare for travelling.
In continuation of his examination in chief, complainant said after preparation he returned to Freetown and handed over his son and his suitcase to the lady he paid the money to and after sometime he got a call from the lady that his son has travelled and he is with John Sullay Kamara the accused in Canada.
“My lord after one week Fatmata Sheriff called and informed me that she has application for two people and that I should send their documents”, he stated.
Complainant said he clarified that with the accused person who assured same. He said he immediately send the documents and paid the sum of twenty million Leones for each person namely Zainab Conteh and Kadiatu Bangura.
Complainant said last month he received a call from one Denis saying he has arrested the accused and that he is with the police. “My lord I was shocked, seeing John Sullay Kamara who supposed to be in Canada”.
He said he came to Ross Road police station where he met the accused and immediately made a report and search for the location of his son at Rokupa close to the sea. He said he also try to locate the two other people he paid for at Waterloo.
At the end of his examination in chief, defense counsel A. Conteh defer cross examination for the next adjourned date.
The matter was adjourned to the 28th of August 2023.