By: Audrey Raymonda John
Jusu Vandy who identified himself as a pastor appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No.1 in Freetown for fraudulently obtaining one hundred and thirty-two thousand leones from the complainant, Solomon Conteh pretended that he will facilitate the travelling of Alimamy Sheriff and Alimamy Conteh to Australia knowing same to be false.
28 years old Pastor Vandy who was residing at Hamilton was arrested on 21st November, 2023 by Detective Police Constable DPC Mattia J and appeared before the court on three counts charges of conspiracy to defraud and two counts of obtained money by false pretenses contrary to law.
Police records indicated that on diverse dates between Friday 8th September and Saturday 21st October, 2023 at No. 135 Kissy Road in Freetown, in the Western Area Rural District (WARD), the accused conspired with unknown persons and obtained NLe132,000 from Solomon Conteh, who happens to be the complainant fringing that he, the accused would facilitate Alimamy Sheriff and Alimamy Conteh’s travels to Australia knowing same to be false.
Led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Osman M. Bangura prosecution witness (PW) 1, Solomon Conteh a businessman recognized the accused as manager of a purported travel program through one Augusta.
He said Augusta gave him information about the accused who have been facilitating People’s traveling in overseas, Australia to be specific.
Conteh said he recalled diverse dates between 8th September and Saturday 21st October 2023.
The witness said on the said date, he said the accused visited him in his office at Ackram at Upgun axis in Freetown and introduced himself as the individual who Augusta introduced him to him as the manager of the traveling programme.
He said the accused confirmed to him that he was the manager of the said travelling program and that he had been facilitating People’s travels to Australia.
In response, Solomon said he made part payment of sixty thousand leones (NLe60,000) to facilitate the traveling of both Alimamy Sheriff and Alimamy Conteh’s travels to Australia.
At this juncture, the police prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Osman M. Bangura requested for an adjournment for him to have proper conference with his witness, application which was granted by Magistrate Kekura.
The accused was refused bail and remanded at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown.
The matter was adjourned to Tuesday 19th December 2023 for further hearing.