By Janet Sesay
Former police officer, Osman Mesheck Samura, and Ramatu Camera made their fifth appearance before Magistrate Marke Ngegba of Pademba Road Court No.2. for allegedly obtaining sixteen thousand, one hundred and ninety-one United States dollars (USD 16,191) and two million, eight hundred and thirty thousand leones (US$2,830,000) from twenty-two (22) people with the pretext of facilitating their travelling to Dubai for employment.
Led in evidence by Inspector Shar Karku, the driver, Mohammed Kamara, who is also complainant in the matter, told the court that he recognizes both accused at the dock and that he came to know them through a friend called Sima, who works for the Freetown City Council.
He continued that sometimes last year, Sima introduced him to the second accused (Osman), who pretended that he can facilitate people to travel to Dubai to secure jobs. He continued that the second accused had convinced him that he needs to pay the sum of two thousand dollars to start the process.
The witness also disclosed to the court that, on the next day, himself and the second accused went to the office of Sima at Freetown City Council, where he handed two thousand dollars (USD 2,0000) to Sima, who in turn handed over the money to the second accused.
Acco9rding to him, the second accused told him to go to the Connaught hospital to do medical test and return with the test results, which would be used an as attachment to the document.
According to the witness, the second accused showed him some documents which he signed. The second accused also assured him that he is desperately trying to process his visa.
The witness noted that after one month he tried calling the second accused but he refused to pick his call, which led him to pay a visit to the house of the accused and requested for the money.
The second accused introduced the first accused (Ramatu) who is in charge of processing the visa. The first accused pleaded with him to have patience with them as they were trying to work on the visa.
Two weeks later the witness recounted that he did not see any progress and therefore decided to report the matter to the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarter.
The accused are standing trial on one count of conspiracy, which is contrary to law, and twelve counts of obtaining money by false pretences, which is also contrary to section 32 (10 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
The court details state that the accused, sometimes in 2018 in Freetown, obtained sixteen thousand, one hundred and ninety-one United States dollars ($16,191) and two million, eight hundred and thirty thousand leones (Le2,830,000) from twenty-two people with the pretext of facilitating their travelling to Dubai, knowing same to be false.
The accused are on five hundred million leones bail. The matter was adjourned to the 25th June 2019.