The charge sheet further revealed that the accused person collected the money in on the pretext that he had one forty feet container at Queen Elizabeth II Quay, containing certain goods, knowing same to be false.

In his testimony, Operational Support Division officer, Osman Bangura stated in court that he recognized the accused person and also remembered the incident of Monday 10 October 2017.

He told the court further that on the aforementioned date, he was together with the complainant at his Hill Station residence, when the accused Abdul Karim, his wife and mother- in- law went to collect the said amount from Pastor Joko Patrick Freeman.

The witness narrated that it was the accused person’s mother- in- law Aunty Kumba that pleaded with the complainant to loan them the amount and assured the complainant that they would refund the loan amount in a month’s time, but it never materialized.

According to the witness, after a month the accused, Abdul Karim went to the residence of the complainant, Pastor Joko Patrick Freeman and handed over to him one brown envelope, on the pretext of refunding the sum of six thousand United States Dollars as promised.

He further told the court that after the accused person had handed over the said brown envelope to the complainant; he requested for a rest and later sneaked away, without saying good bye to the complainant.

The witness went on to say that the complainant, Pastor Joko Patrick Freeman was shocked to learn that the accused person duped him, adding that when the envelope was opened it contained fake black notes.

Osman Bangura further testified that on this particular occasion, he was at the residence of the complainant when he received a telephone call from a lady from the Immigration Department at Gloucester Street in Freetown informing him that the accused person and his wife were at the said building.

The witness said that he immediately rushed to the Immigration Department and requested the assistance of a Police Inspector who arrested the accused Abdul Karim and accompanied them to the Central Police Station, where statement was obtained from him.

At this juncture, Magistrate Santigie Bangura ordered that the accused person be kept at the Male Correction Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown.

The matter was adjourned to Wednesday 18 July 2018.