By: Audrey John
Magistrate Sahr Keikura presiding at the Pademba Road Court No. 1 on Wednesday 13th April 2022 remanded Samuel Sylverlie, after a victim in alleged land fraud testifies against him and one other.
According to the police, Samuel Sylverlie and Komba John Bull, a surveyor, on the 4th February 2021 at Moko Town Bathurst Village conspired together to defraud Augustine Aiah Moiwa the sum of Le 56 million Leones.
Both accused persons were faced with three counts charges of conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretenses and Larceny contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
Led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Christiana Davis Cole, prosecution witness and victim, Yei Yvette Moiwa, disclosed that she and the accused person’s made payment plan for the purchase of a piece of land, adding that she gave the 1st accused the sum of Le 10 million Leones in the presence of the 2nd accused.
The witness and victim also disclosed that she gave additional Le 10 million Leones to the accused for the same piece of land.
Moiwa added that she called her husband in the presence of the 1st accused and he confirmed that he had given the 1st accused the sum of Le 26 million.
She said that the 1st accused told her that he hadn’t any receipt, but she insisted that a receipt be given. “The 1st accused told me that he cannot write, but suggested that I made a note in respect of the payment which both of us signed,” she disclosed.
The said receipt was tendered in court to form part of the Court records.
Moiwa continued that the second accused requested for the sum of Le 5 million Leones after he disclosed that he was a surveyor, noting he would want to prepare documentation for the piece of land in question.
“Before long, I told the second accused that I wish to develop the land, adding that I would want documentation for it, but he told me that the Ministry of Lands could not sign the document as at that time. A few days later a certain man gave me information about the land. I and my husband rushed to the land, and we met a certain woman who claimed to be the owner of the land. She gave us information about the land, including document that shows that the land belongs to her,” she narrated.
The witness said she and her husband left for the resident at Regent. She told the Court that she informed that 2nd accused that somebody has contended with the land, claiming right over it, but the 2nd accused called for calm, adding that he will get on to the 1st accused who never showed up despite efforts made to get him.
The witness furthered that she and her husband reported the matter at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters on Pademba Road in Freetown where she also made statement.
Moiwa said the police officer that attended to her promised to send an invitation for him, but do not honor it. The investigating officer later issued a warrant of arrest for the accused who was later apprehended.
The 1st accused person who was not represented by a lawyer told the Court that he did not receive the sum alone, but with others. The 1st accused person revealed that his mother has provided 2 town lots of land to the victim at Charlotte Village, but the victim said she is not aware.
Magistrate Sahr Kekura has adjourned the matter to the 20th April 2022.
