By Saio Marrah
A surveyor who works for the Ministry of Lands Alcious Kamara, 35 and one Alusine Sesay, 47 of Benguema Road in Waterloo in the Freetown peninsular have been remanded in custody for allegedly obtaining money by false pretences from Ms. Marcela Jones in a transaction involving a piece of land near No.2 River.
In her testimony before the Principal Magistrate, Mark Ngegba of the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1, on Wednesday 8th February, 2023, Ms Jones narrated how between July and December 2022, the second accused Kamara was introduced to her by her husband, Roger. She said Kamara later told them he knew someone that owned four plots of land for sale. The complainant said together with her cousin in the United States of America they had expressed interest in a piece of land along the peninsula area and it was because of that they were taken to see a piece of land close to the No.2 river beach, valued at 60 million Leones (old notes) per plot. She said she was told the price was non-negotiable.
The complainant said when she insisted on negotiating the price she was told to meet the owner of the property at his residence in Benguema for further discussion. She said she failed to get Sesay, the first accused, to lower the price so she went ahead and paid for the land. She said the accused told her he received the land by “a deed of gift”.
According to the complainant, the first instalment of 120 Million Leones (old notes) was made to Kamara in her office, No.19 Charlotte Street in Freetown, after the approval of the second accused and that a receipt was issued to her for the payment.
She told the court that she made a second payment of 50 million Leones (old notes) to the first accused at his workplace, German Embassy Spur Loop and later made the last payment of 70 million Leones (old notes) at the same work place of the German Embassy and was given a receipt.
According to the complainant, when her cousin went to the land the people around the community refused her access to develop the land and that when she explained the incident to the first accused he told her not to worry about it because they will go to the site to erect a concrete structure demarcate the land. She said she received similar assurances from the second accused as a surveyor.
The complainant told the court that when she realized that both accused persons were not being truthful, she and her husband reported the matter to the Operational Support Division (OSD) of the Sierra Leone Police, which resulted in the arrest of the accused persons.
Asked if he had any question for the complainant, the first accused remained silent. However the second accused admitted receiving the first 120 million Leone (old notes) for the said land. He also got the complainant to confirm that he was not present during the second and third payments.
The case was adjourned to 15th February 2023.
The two are charged with six counts of conspiracy and other five offences including obtaining money by false pretences.
The police prosecutor is Kadie M. Taylor.
Copyright © 2023 Politico Online (10/02/23)
