By Janet A Sesay
Amadu Makah Jalloh, Manager of Leone Diamond Sierra Leone Ltd. has made his first appearance before Magistrate Hannah Bonnie for allegedly conspiring with other persons unknown to defraud Konkalsit Ltd. a Turkish Company.
The Police alleged that the accused misappropriated US$160,200.00, the equivalent of Le1, 602,000,000 (one billion, six hundred and two million Leones) by falsely pretending that he had 12 kilograms of gold for sale.
The accused was arraigned before Magistrate Bonnie on twenty-one counts of conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretences, acquiring, receiving and possessing property from an unlawful activity among others.
The Police charge sheet indicates that the accused, on diverse dates, between 1st December 2019 and 29th January 2020 in Freetown conspired with other persons unknown to defraud Konkalsit Ltd. a Turkish Company represented by Asomany Modeste Omar US$160,200.00 by falsely pretending that he had 12 kilograms of gold for sale.
The charged sheet also stated that the accused on 23rd December 2019, at Lumley Road in Freetown obtained $4,230.00 equivalent to Le 42,300,000(forty-two million three hundred thousand Leones) from Konkalsit Limited by falsely pretending that he would use the said money to pay export duty for the two kilograms of gold at the National Minerals Agency knowing same to be false.
The accused person was similarly arraigned for allegedly obtaining US$65,915 equivalent to Le 659, 150,000 (Six hundred and fifty-nine million, one hundred and fifty thousand Leones) from Konkalsit on the 21st December 2019, at Zenith Bank Ltd in Freetown through his Leone Diamond Sierra Leone Company Ltd. account number 4070303499 by falsely pretending that he had two kilograms of gold for sale knowing same to be false.
Police had also alleged that the accused person on the 21st December 2019 at Lumley Road in Freetown received US$62,000 an equivalence of six hundred and two million Leones Le 602,000,000 (six hundred and two million Leones) knowing that it was acquired directly from an unlawful activity to wit organizational fraud.
The accused denied all charges, and the prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ibrahim Mansaray applied for adjournment of the case.
ASP Mansaray’s application was to enable him confer with his witnesses prior to the next hearing before they testify in court.
Counsel J.M Jengo is defending the accused person. He applied for bail for the accused assuring the court that he would neither jump bail nor interfere with prosecution witnesses.
The Police prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds that the quantum of money involved was huge.
ASP Mansaray told the court that the likelihood for the accused to interfere with the prosecution witnesses was high should the court grant him bail.
Having heard the defence and prosecution’s submissions, Magistrate Bonnie granted the accused person bail in the sum of Le 1Bn and three sureties in like sum.
She also directed that the Sureties should be Sierra Leonean residents and property owners in Freetown and that such property must have a money value of not less than Le 1Bn being the sum prescribed as bail condition.
Magistrate Bonnie further directed that the property owners must lodge their title deeds of the property and valuation certificates with the court.
The bail, according to Magistrate Bonnie, must be approved by the Deputy Acting Registrar.
The matter was adjourned to the 13th March.