By Hassanatu I. Conteh
Charlie Ahmed Winchester, a validator for the Sierra Leone Public Transport Authority’s Waka Fine Bus Transport Service, has been remanded after appearing before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Court No.1 in Freetown, on two count charges of defraud and forgery contrary to Section 4 (1) of the Forgery Act 1913.
According to the Police report, count one alleges that Charlie, a teenager, on Tuesday, 9th July, 2024 at Bai Bureh Road, Calaba Town, Freetown, with the intent to defraud, forged certain documents, to wit two ticket booklets the Waka Fine Bus Service of the Sierra Leone Public Transport Authority.
On count two, the police maintain that at the same date and place, Charlie uttered two booklets of the Sierra Leone Public Transport Authority bus tickets (Waka Fine Bus Service) knowing the same to have been forged. Count three of the police report states that on the same date and place, Charlie obtained money by false pretenses contrary to Section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916. It was also alleged that the accused person on the same date and place with the intent to defraud, obtained the sum of One Thousand New Leones (NLe 1,000.00) from Alfred Kamara with the pretext that he had two ticket booklets of the Sierra Leone Public Transport Authority Waka Fine bus service for sale knowing same to be false. The charges were read and explained to Charlie but no plead was taken.
Inspector Tamba Abel Paul Sellu presented the First Prosecution Witness, Abel Junisa, an employee of the Sierra Leone Public Transport Authority. He identified himself as working as a technical supported staff attached to the Technical Unit of the Waka Fine bus service and his duties include providing protection and monitoring road transport management.
In his testimony, the witness identified the accused person as a validator for the Waka Fine bus service. He recounted that on Tuesday, 9th July 2024, he was on duty when he received a call from his boss who informed him about the matter at the Headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department in Freetown concerning a duplication of the Waka Fine bus ticket.
The witness explained that upon arrival at the said CID headquarters, he met someone who had been in police custody by the name of Alpha Kamara with some Waka Fine bus tickets, which had already been duplicated totaling One Hundred and Eight Seven tickets.
The witness stated that when he was at the Criminal Investigation Department, he identified himself to the police and asked for permission to look at the tickets which was granted to him by the police. He said upon checking the duplicated tickets, he noticed that the duplicated tickets have the same serial numbers throughout, which is different from the normal Waka Fine bus tickets.
The witness continued that throughout the investigations by the police about the duplicated Waka Fine bus tickets, it was discovered that Alpha Kamara bought the same ticket from Charlie the bus validator.
The witness concluded that the duplicate tickets were at the CID and that he made a statement to the police and few days later, he received a call to go and identify the accused person at the police station.
During the cross-examination, Defense Lawyer A.O. Gbla questioned the witness about the tickets. The witness reaffirmed his previous statement. The Defense Lawyer then renewed his previous bail application on behalf of his client.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Sahr Kekura refused bail due to fear of interference with Prosecution Witnesses and the seriousness of the case. The accused was remanded at the Male Correctional Center and the matter was adjourned to September 11, 2024 for further proceedings.