August 9, 2021
By Audrey John
Foday Lansana Marrah and Abu Bakar Marrah staff of Qnet and accused persons are before the court on four counts charges to wit Conspiracy to defraud contrary to law and ranging from obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
Led in evidence by state counsel Juan Bull the witness Alhaji Alieu Koroma said he recognized both accused persons through one Mohamed Jakitay. He said on the 16th of May 2019, Mr. Jakitay took him to QNet office at Calaba Town where they met both accused persons.
He said Mr. Jakitay introduced both accused persons as his boss who are doing program for people to go to Malaysia for international jobs.
According to the witness he said first accused person welcomed him and told him that he has to pay the sum of six million one hundred and forty thousand Leones (Le 6,140,000.00) and after getting the job he will be paid two hundred and twenty five thousand dollars per week.
After negotiating, complainant said he was asked to go outside and after few minutes they called and informed him that they will prepare the documents within a week.
He said he returned home waiting for the time given to elapse and to receive call from them, but that did not happen.
Complainant said he immediately calls Mohamed Bella Jakitay and to enquire about the documents preparation, but later told the witness to meet him at office.
Complainant said on arrival to the office, they told him that before he will receive payment he should come with two other people, but he told them that he did not have anyone to join as partner.
He said first accused then told him that he has someone but he must come with another to join for his payment to be fast track after paying the same amount as his.
“My lord I went out of the office mad but they try to calm me down”, he stated.
Explaining further, complainant said he went to his brother and told him what has transpired between himself and both accused persons. The witness said his brother went and sold two of his cattle in order to get the actual amount to do the second payment at their Calaba Town office.
The witness continued that the accused asked them to go to the other office at Portee and called on Mohamed Kamara to receive the payment.
He said he was inside the office with Mohamed Kamara when both accused persons surfaced and checked the money and issued receipt.
Complainant said he was asked to go outside and later they informed him that he has gotten the job and will receive salary the following week.
“I was patiently waited for them to call but to no avail”, complainant said.
In continuation of his testimony, he said he went to their office and when they saw him, they were pretending as if they are busy.
He said he went and reported the report at the Trans National Organized Crime Unit.
When questioned about the receipts issued him, complainant produced and tender it to form part of his case.
The witness was cross examined by defense counsel Achatoh Derrek complainant said the job was marketed to him by one Mohamed Jakitay in December. He said during the conversation, Mohamed Jakitay told him how much to pay to QNet office.
In another question put to him complainant said he accepted to pay the money to Q Net through Foday Lansana Marrah and Abu Bakar Marrah.
Looking at exhibit A, the receipt that was issue to the complainant said the names of the accused persons were not written on it but that he gave the money to them.
Defense counsel was about posing another question to the witness when state counsel Juan Bull objected on the grounds of fairness. She said the defense should allow her client to answer to the questions and not to taunt him.
Continue in cross examination, complainant told the court that he was promised an international job and that he came across both accused persons the day he went to pay the money.
After cross examination, magistrate Mark Ngegba said he is going to remand all three accused persons including the surety of the third accused who want to deceive his court.
He said he will only put them on bail when the absent accused person surface in court.
He adjourned the matter to the 9th of August 2021.