Thirty-nine year old Ahmed Mansaray a Surveyor and thirty-three year old Maligie Kanu another land surveyor made their first appearance before Magistrate Augustine Brima Samura of Pademba Road Court No.8 on seven count charges to wit conspiracy to commit a crime contrary to law, three count ranging forgery contrary to section 2 (1) (a) of the Forgery Act 1913, three count ranging from altering a forged document contrary to section 6 (1) (2) of the Forgery Act 1913.

According to the particulars of offence on 10th to 12th June 2025 at Youyi Building, Brookfields, western area in Freetown, conspired together with other persons unknown to commit a crime to wit forgery.

Count two further stated that on 12th June 2025 at Youyi Building, Brookfields, in the western area of Freetown, with intent to defraud, forged a document to wit one National Revenue Authority (NRA) Survey Bill receipt with plan and LS Number NA 35205, indicating a cash payment of fifty three leones (53) purported to have been made by Isatu Isha Dumbuya.

In count three, at the same date and place, the accused with intent to defraud, forged a document to wit one National Revenue Authority (NRA) Survey Bill receipt with plan and LS Number NA 34125 indicating a cash payment of fifty three leones (53) purported to have been made by Isatu Isha Dumbuya.

In count four, at the same date and place, the accused persons with intent to defraud, forged a document to wit one National Revenue Authority (NRA) Survey Bill receipt with plan and LS Number NA 32201 indicating a cash payment of fifty three leones (53) purported to have been made by Isatu Isha Dumbuya.

Counts five to seven further stated that on the same date at the Ministry of Lands Housing and Country Planning (MLHCP) Youyi Building, Brookfields the western area of Freetown knowingly and fraudulently altered a forged document namely, an NRA Survey Bill receipt, purporting it to be genuine but knowing it to be false.

When the charges were read and explained to the accused, no plea taken.

The prosecutor Assistant Commissioner of Police Juan M. S. Bull and Detective Police Constable 14898 Joseph Lamin Dumbuya led prosecution witness number three Isatu Isha Dumbuya the Secretary for Private Plans said her duties is to receive private plans from licensed surveyors, scan them and send them to the accountant for approval for NRA payments and also give the plan an OTP number. She said the OTP number is a kind of password and no other should attach to the plan.  The witness said she wrote the OTP number on the plan. She recalled on diverse dates between 10th and 12th June 2025 she received telephone calls from PW1. She said she promised to see him the following day. She said she asked her if she was aware of any number of receipts for which she made payments. She said she told him that she had no idea the document was shown to the witness she said PW1 showed her when he called her and asked her whether she made payments for the documents because her name was on the NRA generates receipts. The witness said she did the process after receiving the OTP and used her phone and computer to do payment. She said she actually generated the OTP number during the process she attached the receipt to the plan. She added that when PW1 gave the plan to her, she used her phone to check the OTP and found out that the OTP was not generated by her. Said that there was indeed a number on the document but it is not where it was to be. She said upon the verification using her phone, she found out that OTP number and the name on the document did not correspond and that she will like the court for her to see it. It was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records. The witness furthered that upon her search by inputting the OTP number, nothing came up meaning it was not the receipt, it also showed wrong when the second OTP number was inputted 34/25. The name Musa Daboh came up and the receipt being the name of Maltilda Kozia Coker. She said she then told PW1 that for any payment she made she had a copy of it and gave the sample to the police and showed PW1 the sample. The sample was produced and tendered in court. The witness said what PW1 showed her was genuine whereas the other one was not, she concluded

Prosecution witness number four, DPC 12057 Brima Koroma attached to the Anti-Fraud Unit at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters, he recognized the accused persons and the complainant in the matter. He recalled on 1st July 2025 on the said date, he was on duty at the said office when a case of forgery was transferred from the Land and Environmental Crime Unit (OSD) headquarters Brookfields to the CID headquarters for the continuation of the investigation. He said the file was assigned to him for further investigation. The said case and inquiry file contained the voluntary caution statement of the two accused persons, three NRA Bill receipts they have since been in his custody the said statement and NRA receipt was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records. Request was sent for examination analysis of a read my book laptop computer was addressed to the Cyber Unit of the CID headquarters. The request was produced and tendered in the court to form part of the court records. Statement of witnesses were handed over to him photocopies of the receipts were made attached to a request sent to the NRA for all receipt was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court’s records. On 5th July 2025 himself together with DPC 18591 Kamara H.N charged the accused separately with the offences they are standing trials. The accused persons were cautioned and questioned in Krio language separately which was recorded in English and at the conclusion of their statement it was read over and explained to the accused persons separately which they admitted it to be true and correct by affixing their right hand thumbprints separately witnessed by DPC 18591 Kamara H.N and he signed as the recorder.

On 8th July 2025, they received response from the NRA to their request. The request was produced for identification, he concluded.

Both witnesses were cross-examined by C. Campbell.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Samura refused bail based on the seriousness of the offence charged and sent both accused persons to the male correctional facility in Freetown matter adjourned to 23rd July 2025.