By: Audrey Raymonda John
45yrs old Momoh Bangura a Teacher and 33yrs old Santigie Kindo Kamara a Marketer made their first appearance before Magistrate Peter Gogra of Pademba road court No.6 in Freetown on two count charges to wit Conspiracy contrary to law and Obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of offence sometimes in May 2022 at water street Congo Cross the western area in Freetown conspired together with other persons unknown to commit a felony to wit Obtaining money by false pretences on count two the second accused person on the same date and place with intent to defraud obtained the sum of twenty three thousand Leones(24,000) from Foday Lahai Kamara by falsely pretending that you will facilitate his movement from Sierra Leone to Canada to pursue his studies knowing same to be false property of Foday Lahai Kamara.
Assistant Superintendent of police Abdul Sannoh lead Prosecution witness number one Foday Lahai Kamara a teacher he recognized the first accused person as a teacher friend he recognized the second accused person through the first accused person he recalled sometimes in May 2022 himself and the first accused person on board vehicle and he introduced to him the program he told him that he will love him to be part of the program.
The witness said himself and the first accused person exchange numbers sometimes in February the first accused person told him that the program he told him about is on let him come along with three million on his way the accused first person show him that #3 water Street is the local of the office the witness said he came to the said office they went for registration and he later took him to a hall.
The witness said the first accused person took him to one office where they met with a guy who presented to him a paper telling him that they has different types of program the witness said they told him about Education and other program and he choose Education the guy told him to pay the three million Leones for registration where he brought the form and he requested to photocopy it the guy told him that their form are not going out.
The witness said the first accused person and the guy show him different types of countries but he choose Canada and they asked him if he had such money to get to Canada the witness said he told them that he don’t have such money.
The witness said the first accused person and the guy told him that their company employed and paid one thousand dollars per day, the witness said their told him to come along with another five million Leones where he will get his passport and other documents the witness said he went home and he explained to his wife and she gave her the said amount, the witness said he went to the said office where he handed over to the first accused person and the guy, the witness said his wife went to LAPO were she loan money the witness said his wife burrow him the said money.
He went to the said office and he paid the money the receipt was given to him but it was later taken by the accused persons who informed him that those documents are not going out.
The witness said he went for an interview were the person told him that let him go home they will get onto him after three months, the witness the first accused person also requested for two hundred thousand Leones for a conference that will he taking place the witness said he sent his on contribution through the first accused person on his orange money number where he will got the office T-shirt and other items.
The witness said he go through the workshop made through that he gained knowledge that when you joined the program you will come along with another two person, the witness said the first accused person took him to a man called Mr Fallah who told him that the said office was called Q-net who told him to come along with another two people as he come with the two people they will place twenty dollars into his account and the other two people should come along with two people for his account to be growing.
The witness said he told the first accused person that he didn’t have another two people to come with the first accused person told him that let him behave to the other people like the way he behave to him, the witness said he went to the office requesting for his money they refused to give him his money he went to Congo Cross police station where he made statement.
Cross examination by defense counsel A.D Achatoh you will agree that this entire transaction you decide to back out the witness said yes, you said the first accused person introduced the business to you at this junction the defence counsel renewed his previous Bail applications on behalf of the accused persons.
However, Magistrate Gogra refused bail matter adjourned to the 3rd November 2022 for further hearing Assistant Superintendent of police Abdul Sannoh prosecuting the matter.