By: Audrey Raymonda John
Two Sierra Leonean surveyors Ahmed Mansaray (39) and Maligie Kanu (33) were formally committed to the High Court today after facing seven charges at Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 8. The charges include conspiracy, multiple counts of forgery under Section 2(1)(a) of the Forgery Act 1913, and uttering forged documents under Section 6(1)(2) of the same Act.
Between 10 and 12 June 2025, at Youyi Building, Brookfields, Freetown
The accused allegedly conspired to forge NRA Survey Bill receipts with LS Numbers NA 35205, NA 34125, and NA 32201, each claiming a cash payment of Le 53 by Isatu Isha Dumbuya, intending to defraud the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning (MLHCP).
Submission of Forged Documents: The Deputy Director of Surveys, Abraham Cooper, testified that Mansaray submitted the documents via an assistant to the charting officer on 10 June. The receipts aroused suspicion due to the absence of the mandatory NRA one-time password (OTP), prompting immediate referral to CID’s Environmental Crime Unit.
The court prepared charges under including count 1: Conspiracy to commit a crime.
Counts 2–4: Forgery. Counts 5–7: Uttering forged documents.
When charges were read, neither accused entered a plea. Prosecutors called five witnesses before requesting the matter to be committed to the High Court for full trial.
Magistrate Augustine Brima Samura ruled that the prosecution had established sufficient evidence to warrant trial at the High Court. Bail was granted for each accused at Le 25,000, with two sureties residing in the Western Area and providing valid ID. Bail was provisionally approved pending formal confirmation by the Deputy Assistant Registrar.