By Audrey Raymonda John

Fifty-one years old Mohamed Issa Jalloh a business man and Forty-seven years old Idrissa Koroma a Civil servant working for the Ministry of Lands Housing and Country Planning made their first appearance before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba Road court No.1 in Freetown on three count charges to wit Conspiracy to defraud contrary to law, obtaining money by false pretences contrary to section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916 and Causing Money to be paid by false pretenses contrary to section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.

According to the particulars of offence on a date between 1st January to 15th March 2023 in Freetown the accused with intent to defraud conspired together with other persons unknown and defrauded Abubakar Jalloh the Sum of one hundred thousand United States Dollars(100,000) equivalent to two million three hundred thousand new Leones(2,300,000,00) with the pretext that he has two and half town lot lying and situated of Main Motor Road Wilberforce Freetown for sale knowing same to be false on count two at the same place and date the first accused person obtained the said amount from Abubakar Jalloh through the second accused Idrissa Koroma by falsely pretending that he has the said land for sale knowing same to be false on count three the second accused person on the same date with intent to defraud unlawfully caused money to be paid by Abubakar Jalloh to wit the said amount for the same land knowing same to be false

The charges was read and explained to the accused person No plea taken. Assistant Superintendent of police Daniella Wellington lead prosecution witness number one Abu Bakarr Jalloh a business man he recognised the accused in the dock he recalled on a date between 1st January to 15th March 2023 the witness said he recognized the second accused person by then he was working at Ministry of Lands Housing and Country Planning the witness said he call the second accused and he told him that he has a land and a house at Wilberforce that he want to sale the witness said himself and the second accused went to the said land and he told him that I like the land the witness said he told the second accused person that he want to know the owner of the land the witness said himself and the second accused negotiate for the said land the conveyance of the said land own by one Metzger was produce for identification for part of the court records the witness said himself and the second accused person make payment plan through Rokel Commercial Bank inside the account of the second accused person the witness said the amount was one hundred thousand Dollars equivalent to two million three hundred thousand Leones the witness said on the last transaction the first accused person was present at this  junction the prosecutor seek for a short adjournment date for her to tender some documents

Counsel representing the accused persons A.A Mansaray renewed his previous Bail application on behalf of the accused persons

Meanwhile, Magistrate Ngegba granted the accused persons bail in the sum five hundred thousand Leones with two sureties each in like sum one surety each must have a verified bank account and a title deeds bail both the sureties to have the newly national identity card bail to be verified by the Bench and to be approved by the Deputy Assistant Registrar Matter adjourned to the 3rd August 2023