By Janet Sesay
A businessman who identified himself as Mohammed Kamara yesterday made his third appearance before Magistrate Hannah Bonnie of Pademba Road Court No.1 for allegedly obtaining one hundred million Leones (Le100, 000,000) from Mahawa Jalloh, purporting that he has a business truck for sale.
Led in evidence by state prosecutor, Adrian Fisher, the witness Inspector Amadu Jalloh attached at the Financial Crimes Unit, Criminal Investigations Department Headquarters, told the court that he recognized the accused person and also recalled 20th July 2019.
He continued that while on duty a case of obtaining money by false pretences was reported by the complainant against the accused and the matter was allocated to him for investigation, and that upon receipt of the matter he obtained statements from complainant and witnesses separately.
Amadu said on 22nd July 2019, he obtained voluntary cautioned statements from the accused person.
The accused voluntary cautioned statement was tendered in court to form part of the evidence.
He furthered that on the next day, the accused person made a part payment of thirty-three million Leones (Le 33,000,000) and handed the money to the Exhibit Clerk for safe keeping.
He concluded that on 10th October 2019, he obtained final cautioned statement from the accused person and charged him with the offence of conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money by false pretences.
The witness was cross examined by defense counsel, Festus Conteh.
The accused was standing before Magistrate Hannah Bonnie on two counts of conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The particulars of offence indicated that the accused person on 19th January, 2019 at Kissy Road in Freetown conspired together with other persons unknown to obtain one hundred million Leones (Le 100,000,000) from the complainant by falsely pretending that he has a tipper truck for sale, knowing same to be false.
The accused person was however granted bail by the Magistrate and the matter adjourned to 27th November, 2019.