Akim Bangura, a 53-year-old businessman, has been remanded in custody pending trial on allegations of financial impropriety.
The police allege that Bangura, between the 1st and 28th of February 2023, at Pademba Road Dwarzak Farm Junction in Freetown, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of twenty thousand Leones (20,000) from Zainab Kamara by falsely presenting himself as capable of securing a Canadian visa for her daughter.
Bangura appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at the Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown, where he faced a count of obtaining money by false pretenses. Bangura entered a not guilty plea after the charges were read and explained to him in court.
The first prosecution witness, Zainab Jalloh, testified under oath that she met the accused at Benjamin Lane in the company of her friend Adama, who informed her that the accused facilitated a travel program for her. Following the introduction, Jalloh expressed her interest in obtaining a visa for her daughter. Based on this, the accused requested that Kamara pay $3,000 USD to facilitate the Canadian visa arrangements.
Jalloh promptly returned home and brought Le 18,000 to the accused, for which a receipt was issued and subsequently submitted as evidence. Additionally, Jalloh produced receipts of Le 500 and Le 1,500, which were also admitted into evidence. Jalloh further presented a signed agreement between herself and the accused person regarding the visa for her daughter.
Several weeks later, Jalloh realized that Bangura could not obtain the Canadian visa for her daughter. She made several unsuccessful attempts to contact Bangura by phone and was unable to ascertain his whereabouts. Subsequently, she decided to report the matter to the police, leading to Bangura's arrest and subsequent arraignment in court.
Bangura, who was not represented by a lawyer, cross-examined the witness. Additional witnesses are expected to testify in this matter.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Bangura remanded the accused into custody and adjourned the case until the 24th of June 2024.
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