By Saio Marrah
26-year-old Sorie Kabba of Upper Kuntorloh, Wellington in Freetown, who said he is a network marketer for Qnet Company, has during cross-examination at the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No.1 in Freetown, denied obtaining money from clients to facilitate their travel abroad.
Kabba was responding to Police Prosecutor, Inspector Kadie Taylor on Thursday 9th March 2023, who had informed Magistrate Mark Ngegba that between the 1st and 30th of April 2022, at 124 City Road, Wellington in Freetown, he conspired with other people to collect NLE15,000 (Fifteen thousand new Leones) from a man named Aruna Bundu on the pretext of facilitating his travel to Australia.
He was also said to have on diverse dates and at the same address, with other persons obtained an amount of NLE 11,500 (Eleven thousand five hundred new Leones) from one Abdul Rahman Bangura with the promise of assisting him go to Australia.
The prosecutor further accused him of conspiring with others to obtain NLE 7,000 (Seven thousand new Leones) from one Moses Conteh so he could travel to Canada.
The accused was also said to have together with others collected NLE 20, 000 (Twenty thousand new Leones) from one Sinnah Aminata Kamara of the same address, assuring they will ensure her siblings, Fatmata Sinnah Kamara and Thomas Max Kamara depart for Canada and United States of America, respectively.
The prosecutor also stated that Kabba and others collected NLE 10,000 (Ten thousand new Leones) from Sinnah Aminata Kamara to help her elder sister, Hassanatu Kamara go to Canada.
But Kabba denied receiving the monies from Sinnah Aminata Kamara, insisting they were paid directly to one Abu John, head of the Qnet office.
He said he was a marketer and that one can be an Independent Representative (IRs) of Qnet. But the police prosecutor cut in, alleging that the only thing the accused was saying that was truthful was his name.
It could be recalled that lawyers representing Qnet in Sierra Leone and Liberia, Pious Herman Sesay and Bestman D. Juah, Sir, respectively in a press conference refuted fraudulent acts associated with the company and denied claims that Qnet offers travelling opportunities.
Lawyer Sesay also pointed out in that press conference that Qnet has no office in Sierra Leone and that individuals operating in Sierra Leone are mere IRs, who buy products from the company and sell them on a commission basis.
Kabba is charged with eight counts ranging from conspiracy to commit a felony, causing money to be paid to another with the intent to defraud, to obtaining money by false pretense.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (13/03/23)
