According to the particulars of the offence documented in the charge sheet, between Tuesday November 3, 2015, and on Wednesday November 11, 2015, the accused, Kingsley Steven, allegedly attempted to defraud Roberto Reyes on the pretext of offering him 20% of thirty million United State dollars.
The accused is also charged with the offence of unlawful possession of syringes, designed for intra-muscular or intravenous injection to any person, contrary to Section 57 Sub Sections (2), of the Pharmacy and Drug Act of 2001, of the laws of Sierra Leone.
Led in evidence by police prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Sergeant Mohamed Fofanah, the witness, Detective Police Constable (DPC) Brima Koroma said, he is attached to the Major Incident Support Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), in Freetown, and recognised the accused person.
DPC Koroma further disclosed that, he recalled November 3, 2015, and on the day in question, he was on duty at the CID’s headquarters in Freetown, when the complainant, Roberto Reyes arrested and brought in the accused person.
He explained that, the complainant, Roberto Reyes made a report against the accused person, and the matter was assigned to him, ASP Allieu, Inspector Paul Conteh and a team of police officers for further investigation.
Brima Koroma informed the court that, they went to the Charm Beach Hotel and executed a search warrant in the accused hotel room.
The witness further explained that, after executing the warrant, they discovered four syringes designed for intra-muscular injection, and was recorded and handed over to the Exhibit Clerk.
He informed the court that, at the conclusion of their investigation, they charged the accused person with the offence of attempt to defraud, having contemporaneously interviewed the accused person by questioning and cautioning him in English.
According to the witness, the accused person made statement in English, which was recorded in English, and at the conclusion of the interview, he said, the accused, Kingsley Steven, admitted his statement to the police to be true and correct, by affixing his thumb print.
Another Detective Police Constable, Abdul Conteh, also testified that, he is attached to the Crime Writers Office of the CID’s headquarters in Freetown and recalled, November 18, 2015.
He said, whilst on duty at the CID’s headquarters, Detective Police Constable Brima Koroma of the Major Incident Support Unit handed over the said syringes to him, including a Sierra Leonean photo copy passport book with serial number 30078305, bearing the name of Sidibay Musa.
The witness said that, he took possession of the exhibits and recorded it in the court’s registry book, and it has since been in the custody of the police.
The accused person was represented by Fio Edwards Esq. and lawyer H.S Samura.
The matter was adjourned to December 2, 2015.
