Zhou Wenjie, a Chinese national and a business man made his first appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No.2 in Freetown on four count charges to wit conspiracy to defraud, amounting to forgery and two counts for presenting a forged document.
According to the particulars of offence on the 9th December 2020 in the western area in Freetown with intent to defraud from the Pioneer Engineering Company Sierra Leone Limited, the accused conspired together and with other persons unknown to forge a document to withdraw cash from Rokel Commercial Bank at an account with the Account number 11-1014871. That was on 9th December 2020, with a slip purported to have been signed by the authorized signatories of the pioneer engineering company SL Limited.
Count two further stated that on the same date and place the accused person with intent to defraud a forged signature of Zhang Ke and Youg Yining on certain documents were made at the Rokel Commercial Account opening from with account number 11-1014871.
Count three and four further stated that on the same date and place the accused person with intent to defraud uttered a certain forged document to wit Rokel Commercial Bank account opening from with account number 11-1014871 dated 9th December 2020 purporting to have been prepared and signed by Zhang Ke and Youg Yining the majority shareholders of pioneer power engineering Company SL Limited held with the said Rokel commercial bank
When the charges were read and explained to the accused person, no plea was taken.
The prosecuting counsel CCE Komoh Esq seeks for a short adjournment date for his first witness
Counsel representing the accused person A.B Jalloh Esq, made application for bail on behalf of the accused person that he has a fixed aboard within his jurisdiction and he is not a flight risk, saying he will not interfere with the prosecution witness or witnesses nor will he jumped bail he made his application pursuant to section 79 2 of the Criminal procedure Act 1965 and refers to bail regulation 2018.
The prosecuting counsel said they’re not objecting to bail but invites the magistrate to note the weight of the charges.
Magistrate Bangura granted the accused person bail in the sum of fifty thousand Leones with two sureties in like sum sureties must be responsible Sierra Leoneans residents in Freetown and must show proof of their residence and addresses the defendant to surrender is passport and as other travelling documents in his possession bail to be approved by master and registrar of the High Court of Sierra Leone matter adjourned to the 17th October 2024.