By Audrey Raymonda John

Magistrate Hadiru K. Daboh of Ross Road Court No.3 has granted bail to Francis Sahr Mbayo an entrepreneur and Susan Alieu a business woman in the sum of NLe90,000 or one surety in like sum and surety to be resident in Freetown and bail to be approved by the Deputy Registrar

Francis Sahr M’bayo and Susan Alieu were arraigned before Magistrate Hadiru K. Daboh for four count charges ranging from conspiracy to defraud contrary to law and three counts of obtaining money by false pretense contrary to section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.

The particulars of offence state that on a date unknown between the 1st February to 31st August 2022 at Wellington the Eastern area in Freetown both accused persons conspired together and with other persons unknown to defraud Naomi Koroma .

On count two on a date unknown between 1st February to 31st August 2022 at produce marketing board PMB junction Wellington at the Eastern area in Freetown with intent to defraud obtained the sum of Eight thousand Five hundred new Leones (NLe8, 500) from the complainant by falsely pretending that he will facilitate her travelling to Washington DC in the United States of America knowing same to be false.

The charges were read and explained to the accused person and no plea taken.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Fatmata Kuyateh led Prosecution witness number one Naomi Koroma.

During her testimony on oath Naomi Koroma told the court that she is unemployed and that she recognized the accused persons from her village called Gandon Banie Chiefdom Kono District.

She said that she recalled on the 1st to 31st August 2022 while she was in Freetown at her house something transferred between herself and the accused persons for which they are in court. Prosecution Witness explained to the court that she was in Gandon one day when her ex-fiancé who is the younger brother of one of the accused persons called and informed her that he is in the United States of America, adding that  he told her he wanted her to meet him in the U.S.A and told her the amount of money to pay for the trip which is NLe15,000 (Fifteen Million Leones)  as he is willing to help her with NLe6,000 (Six million Leones) as part of his own contribution.

PW1 told the court that the brother of the accused then asked him to send NLe9, 000 (Nine million Leones) and she went and informed her father about the proposal, adding that one Emmanuel Junisa transferred the sum of NLe6, 000 (Six million Leones) to the bank account and she travelled to Freetown and withdrew it and handed over  to the accused person at PMB junction Wellington.

PW1 who is also the complainant said herself and the accused person went to Fannah off Jui where she paid the money to someone she didn’t know and while on their way returning she said the accused person told her that she has failed the interview.

The witness said the accused asked her father to complete the money for her travelling and his father transferred the sum of NLe500 (Five Hundred thousand Old Leones) to the accused person in her presence while her father requested her elder brother to assist them with NLe1, 000 (One million Leones) which he did give and she gave the NLe1, 000 to the accused person. She furthered that the accused person told her about an outstanding amount of NLe3, 000 (Three million Leones) and advised her not to informed her father about it because he will not pay, adding that she didn’t informed her father.

PW1 stated that her father assisted her with NLe500 (Five hundred thousand old Leones) which she handed over to a lady called Top Marion who was among the conspirators, adding that she paid to her because she was advised by the accused person to do so in his absence.  She continued that she informed the accused about the payment who, she said always glanced at her for her dress code, adding that she was staying with the accused person and he was in the habit of glancing her at home.

The witness informed the court that she stayed with the accused person for seven months at Peacock Farm and she said the wife of the accused person told her to tell goodbye to her father and elder brother as her trip to the United States of America is successful.

Pw 1 said that she later reported the accused persons to Kaibara Police station

The witness was cross examined by the accused persons while the matter was adjourned.