By: Audrey Raymonda John
Mohamed Sal made another appearance before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road court No.1 as he was alledged of obtaining over two hundred million Leones from Yusuf Turay and Adama Turay by falsely pretending that he will facilitate their travel to Canada and America knowing same to be false.
The accused was arraigned before the court on three count charges ranging from conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to law and obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The charge sheet indicated that the accused sometimes in July, 2022 at Aberdeen in Freetown, obtained the sum of Two hundred and forty-eight million, seven hundred and fifty thousand Leones from both complainant by falsely pretending that he will facilitate their travel to Canada and America knowing same to be false.
Assistant Superintendent of police Ibrahim S. Mansaray lead inspector
Mohamed Bangura attached at the Lungi Police Station previously attached to the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters as an investigator recognized the accused in the dock and recalled on 30th January 2023.
Witness Bangura said on that day, he was on duty when he received a case and enquire file from the Criminal Investigation Department Ross road police station and the matter was allocated to him for further investigation.
The witness furthered that the file contained one fake visa document and four statements in respect of both complainants and their witnesses.
The fake visa document was tendered in court and was marked as exhibit A .
The witness said he also received nine passports and a receipt book which were also tendered in court
Furthermore, the witness said he also received several receipt of payments made by Yusuf Turay and Adama Turay to the accused.
The receipts were tendered and marked as exhibit F1-9.
Witness Bangura continue that on Thursday 2 February 2023, he obtained voluntary caution statements from the accused Mohamed Sal by observing the judges` rules.
The voluntary caution statements were tendered and marked as exhibit G1-3.
He said on the same day he charged the accused with the offense of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretenses.
The charge statement were also tendered in court to form part of the prosecution`s case.
The witness was cross examined by the accused himself as he was unrepresented in court.
The accused in his cross examination put it to the witness that he told him that he has already made statement at the Ross Road Police Station and cannot make another statement at the CID and the witness answered in the positive.
Furthermore, the witness said the fake visa document was sent to Trans National Organize Crime Unit (TOCU) and there it was confirmed that the visa documents are fake.
After the cross examination the accused was granted bail on this file but was denied bail on the other three files that were mentioned before the court on different CS numbers.
All the files were adjourned to the 27th November 2023.