By Musa Paul Feika
During yesterday`s proceedings, at the Ross Road Magistrate Court No. 1, which is presided over by Magistrate Wilbri Hamida Moira John, PW1, Amara Saidu Kargbo (complainant), told the bench that the Manager, whose name he could not recall, for HADEX Sierra Leone Limited Company, situated at No. 14B Murray Town Road, in Freetown, confirmed to him that the accused, Abdul Bash Kamara, was marketing for the aforesaid company.
Mr. Kargbo furthered that he had an arrangement with the accused, whom he gave seven million seven hundred thousand Leones (Le7,700,000) to supply him with sixteen (16) bundles of PVC ceiling. But he said the accused failed to supply him.
He added that he made the said payment, to the accused, in the presence of his driver, Mr. Momoh, in his residence at Bai Bureh Road in Freetown.
The witness continued his evidence that he recognized the accused as a marketer, who was working for the HADEX Sierra Leone Limited Company, and could recall 14th January, 2021.
Mr. Kargbo said, on 14th January, 2021, the accused met and introduced himself as a marketer from the aforementioned company. The witness recounted that himself and the accused went to the company’s manager who confirmed that the accused was indeed a marketer, and was working for his company even though the company had denied the allegation.
The witness said he later had an arrangement with the accused and handed over to him seven million, seven hundred thousand Leones (Le7,700,000) for sixteen PVC ceiling. But he said the accused woefully fail to do so. According to him, he contacted HADEX Sierra Leone LTD Company’s manager, and explained exactly what transpired between his marketer and him.
The witness said, in reply, the manager gave him the accused`s address, at Monkey Bush, in Waterloo, where the accused was apprehended and brought to the Congo Water Police Post, Wellington in Freetown.
The witness concluded his testimony stating that he handed over the accused to the police and made a statement.
The accused is arraigned before the court on one count of obtaining money by false pretences, an offence which is contrary to law.
The police say, on the 14th January, 2021, at No. 33 Bai Bureh Road in Freetown, the accused fraudulently converted seven million, seven hundred thousand Leones (Le7,700,000) to his own use, pretending that he had sixteen (16) bundles of PVC ceiling for sale, knowing the same to be false.
According to the police, the money was entrusted to him by Amara Saidu Kargbo (complainant). The accused was not legally represented. Bail was refused and he was remanded at the Male Correctional Centre, Pademba Road in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to 15th April, 2021.