By Janet A Sesay
Four men, including an employee of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), have made their first appearance before Magistrate Mustapha Briama Jah at Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown, facing a total of 61 charges relating to alleged forgery, fraudulent production and use of vehicle licence documents.
The accused are 29-year-old Mustapha Rogers, 29-year-old Simeon Vibbie, a clearing and forwarding broker, 26-year-old Foday Jayah, an IT specialist, and 32-year-old Sahid Ahmed Sesay, a licensed agent employed by the SLRSA.
The charges include conspiracy to defraud, 14 counts of uttering forged documents contrary to Section 6(1) of the Forgery Act 1913, 15 counts of printing licences without authority contrary to Section 98(a) of the Road Traffic Act 2007, 14 counts of forgery of licences under the same provision of the Road Traffic Act, and 16 counts of forgery contrary to Section 4(1) of the Forgery Act 1913.
According to the particulars of offence, on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, at the SLRSA Head Office on Kissy Road, Freetown, the accused allegedly conspired with other persons unknown, with intent to defraud the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority.
It was further alleged that on the same date and at the same location, the first and second accused forged a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) sticker bearing serial number 252022235, purportedly prepared and issued by the Director of Licences at the SLRSA.
Count three further alleged that the two accused, knowing the document to be forged, uttered the same RFID sticker with intent to defraud.
The prosecution also alleged that they printed the RFID sticker without lawful authority.
When the charges were put to the accused persons, no plea was taken.
The prosecution was represented by ASP Willigton and Inspector M. K. Taylor. The lead prosecutor served copies of the indictment in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Act 2024, although only one copy was reportedly served on the first accused’s counsel.
Following the service of the indictment, defence counsel for all four accused persons applied for bail pursuant to Section 76(1)(c) of the Criminal Procedure Act No. 8 of 2024.
- B. Brownley and H. Conteh represented the second accused, while M. Conteh and J. A. Sesay appeared for the third accused. M. S. Sankoh represented the fourth accused.
After hearing the bail applications, Magistrate Briama Jah refused bail and remanded the accused persons, adjourning the matter to 4 November 2026 for further proceedings.