By Janet A. Sesay
Abdulai Turay who claimed to be a PhD holder and lecturer at the Njala University, Bo campus, yesterday made another appearance before the Principal Magistrate of the Freetown Magistrate Court No. 1, Mr Mark Ngegba, as he fraudulently took over Le13 million from the complainant, Francis Morlai Lincoln, and his friends by falsely pretending that he will help them pursue their master’s degrees at the said college.
The accused was arraigned before the court on six counts charges of obtaining money by false pretences and impersonation which are all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The charge sheet indicated that the accused on 3 April 2023 at Robert Lane, Jui in Freetown, falsely pretended to be a PhD holder and a lecturer at Njala University, Bo campus, and under such assumed character obtained Le13, 500,000 from Francis Morlai Lincoln and his friends by falsely pretending that he will facilitate their postgraduate scholarship programmes to study at Njala University knowing same to be false.
Led in evidence by Sergeant 9939 Lahai M., the witness, Francis Morlai Lincoln said he is a civil servant working in the Ministry of Environment and he also recognised the accused in the dock.
He recalled 3rd April 2023 saying on that day he was sitting in their shop at Jui when the accused met him saying his face looked familiar and that they had both attended Njala University, which he confirmed was true.
He said the accused told him that he was a PhD holder and lecturer at Njala University teaching master’s students.
The witness said the accused then told him that he would help him pursue his master’s at the said college since he was a lecturer, adding that he took the accused to his parents and they were excited about the idea. He said his parents paid the accused Le1,500,000 as advance payment for him to fast track the process.
He said the accused then told him that he had five spaces and if he had relatives or friends that wanted to do their master’s he could help them as well, but that it was not free as it costs Le5 million but for his sake they should pay Le3 million each.
The witness continued that he immediately informed his friends, Mark, Sheka, Aaron and Sahr and each of them gave the accused Le3 million together with their passport pictures and detailed information.
He said the accused confirmed to him each time he received the money sent by his friends, although he did not produce any receipt for the payments made.
He said the accused later informed his friends asking them if they had friends who also wanted to do their master’s, saying that he would help them. The witness said that his friends called him and informed him about the accused’s request and he immediately called the accused, who he reminded that he had initially said that he had five spaces, asking why he was now or still asking for more people.
He said it was at this point in time that they knew it was a fraud and they went to Njala University to confirm if they had a Dr Abdulai Turay as lecturer at the college; the university said they did not know anyone by that name. He said since then they had been trying to call the accused but his phone was switched off.
At this juncture Magistrate Ngegba adjourned the matter saying that there are other files that he wanted to deal with. Defence counsel Abdul Rahman made an application for bail on behalf of the accused. He was refused bail and the matter was adjourned to 13 June 2023 for continuation.