Police alleged that the four accused persons conspired together with other persons unknown with intent to defraud one David Chambers by pretending to be the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Brigadier Rtd. Dr. Julius Maada Bio on Thursday 12 July, 2018.
Accused person Mohamed Osam Sesay and three others are also facing two count charges for Conspiracy to Defraud and Impersonation, which contravenes Section (3) Cap (34) as amended by Section (4) of Act No. (13) of 1975 of the laws of Sierra Leone.
It is further alleged that two of the accused persons Mohamed Osman Sesay and Lamin Sorie Sesay on Thursday 12th July 2018 in the Freetown Judicial District, with intent to defraud David Chambers, by falsely pretending through telephone communication with SIM number: 088-030-296 and 079-889-577, to be the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Brigadier Rtd. Julius Maada Bio with the said SIM number without lawful authority.
Court record also indicated that the accused persons Mohamed Osman Sesay and Lamin Sorie Sesay also impersonated the Personal Assistant to President Julius Maada Bio, Abdulai Sesay by using the aforementioned SIM numbers without lawful authority, contrary to law.
In the second charge sheet, the four accused persons, Mohamed Osman Sesay, Lamin Sorie Sesay of 7 Wilkinson Road, Alhaji Issa Mansaray who claimed to be a civil servant of 1 Oloshoroh Road; Lamin Sorie Sesay of 5 Sea View off Collegiate Road and Umaru Sesay of 40 Alusine Street Calaba Town in Freetown are charged with the offence of Conspiracy to Defraud.
The State further alleged that the four accused persons conspired together with other persons unknown to defraud the Managing Director of Mercury International, Martin Edmund Michael on Thursday 25th July, 2018 within the jurisdiction of Sierra Leone.
The Particulars of Offence state that the accused persons falsely pretended through telephone communication with SIM number; 078- 027- 077 and 079- 899-577 to be the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Brigadier Rtd. Julius Maada Bio and his Personal Assistant, Abdulai Sesay, and they were found in full operation with the said SIM numbers without lawful authority.
Counsel representing the four accused persons, J.M Jengo canvassed the presiding Magistrate Santigie Bangura to admit his clients to bail, as they have credible and reliable sureties who are ready and willing to enter into recognizance on their behalf.
He argued that the offences for the accused persons are mere allegations, and that if the court grants bail to the accused persons, they will not jump bail, nor interfere with the prosecution witness or witnesses.
In his wisdom, Magistrate Santigie Bangura responded that in as much as the accused persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty, the court would not grant bail considering the seriousness of the offences charged, and that if the court should grant bail to the accused persons, there is the likelihood that they will run away.
Against this backdrop, he ordered that the four accused persons be remanded at the Male Correctional Centre at Pademba Road.
The matter comes up again on Wednesday 8 August 2018.
