By Saio Marrah
A 30-year-old accused, Ibrahim Kargbo of 18 Bangura Street in Waterloo, has appeared at a Freetown Magistrate court on allegation of fraudulently obtaining 94 million Old Leones, on the pretext of him having a vehicle for sale.
The accused appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Ross Road Court No.1 on Friday 25th August 2023.
Alie Sahid Dumbuya, first prosecution witness (PW1) and complainant , told the court that after the accused had advertised the vehicle (Mercedes Benz Sprinter) via WhatsApp, he contacted him for the vehicle which the accused priced at 200 million old Leones, but was negotiated for 170 Million old Leones.
Lead in by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Osman M. Bangura, PW1 informed the court that On Tuesday 11th July this year, they met at Allentown Junction and went together to a compound where the white coloured vehicle was parked.
At the compound, he said the accused asked someone he described as caretaker to bring out the key and battery of the vehicle, which were handed over to his (complainant)’s driver.
“My driver switched on the engine and observe it for about one to two minutes. My driver said the vehicle was faulty and that he would only discover other faults when he drives it,” he told the court.
The court learnt from him that his driver drove them (complainant, accused’s caretaker and a brother of the accused, Abdul Kanneh to Saint Helena, East of Freetown.
At St. Helena, PW1 said the vehicle was examined and was advised that it required a lot of maintenance. From that point, he said they finally settled for 165 million Old Leones.
“I then gave him four thousand Dollars ($ 4000), equivalent 94 Million Old Leones in the presence of my driver and the brother of the accused, Abdul Kanneh, “he further testified.
At that moment, he said the accused together with his brother immediately left for Queen Elizabeth II Quay with the promise to get more documents for the vehicle.
“We waited for him for some time but we did not see him. I then told my driver to move the vehicle to the nearest garage. Suddenly the said caretaker told us not to move the car because it belongs to him.”
According to him, after telling the caretaker that he (complainant) had already made part-payment to the accused, the caretaker said he does not know the accused.
PW1 also noted that the caretaker further said that the accused only begged him (accused) to render the service of his(caretaker)’s vehicle to buy a car from the complainant.
“We then went to police and the vehicle was returned to the said caretaker as the rightful owner, after producing due documents,” he noted.
According to him, the accused was later apprehended after calling the same advertisement phone number that he( complainant) want to buy car, using another line.
At that point, he said had arranged with police about the deal and that they settled for same 170 million Old Leones.
According to PW1, the accused use the same white Benz Sprinter.
During the course of the arrest, the brother of the accused escaped, while the accused was taken to Ross Police Station.
At the station he said the accused begged him saying he would return the money to him the complainant.
While refusing a bail application for the accused, the presiding magistrate told the court that vehicle fraud has been very common in Eastern part of Freetown.
He also pointed out that they mostly used similar method.
The accused faces two counts of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (28/08/23)
