The accused, Alhaji Umaru Bah is facing five counts related charges of Obtaining Money by False Pretense, contrary to the Section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act of 1916, of the laws of Sierra Leone.
Prior to the committal of the matter to the High Court, Magistrate Komba Kamanda explained that the accused person was brought before him for the aforementioned offences and that the prosecution led five witnesses in evidence throughout the Preliminary Investigation of the matter.
Magistrate Kamanda further informed the court that between September 4, 2013, and September 30, 2014, the accused Alhaji Umaru Bah received the sum of twenty million leones from the complainant, Chernor Jakitay on the pretext of facilitating his business transactions with the then African Minerals mining company.
He went on to inform the court that October 31, 2015, and December 1, 2014, the accused went and collected the sum of eight hundred million leones from the complainant, on the pretext that, his business counterparts, the then, African Minerals was supposed to pay him millions of Leones for supplying mining equipments.
According to Magistrate Kamanda, after receiving the money, the accused nullified the terms of agreement, by failing to refund the complainant’s money on the agreed date, and started to give the complainant, flimsy excuses and fake promises.
He said during the preliminary Investigation, the accused Alhaji Umaru Bah told the court that he had eight hundred million leones at the Bank of Sierra Leone, but when the court investigated the claim, they discovered that the accused was deceiving and wasting the court’s time.
Magistrate Kamanda further told the court that, the prosecution has adduced sufficient evidence against the accused person which he said warrant the committal of the matter and for the accused person, Alhaji Umaru Bah to stand trial in High the Court of Sierra Leone.
The accused he went on manifested dishonesty and gross wickedness to the complainant and that his Court has no room for such negative and criminal tendencies of any accused brought before him for such offences.
Speaking on the issue of the bail application by the accused lawyer A.Bah,the police prosecutor, Superintendent Samuel Kamara objected on the grounds that the charges proffered against the accused person are very gave, considering the quantum of money involved and that there is the likelihood that the accused might jump bail. (daveseminara.com)
Magistrate Kamanda then ordered the accused, Alhaji Umaru Bah to be remanded at the male Correctional Centre at Pademba road in Freetown until the Criminal Session of the High Court of Sierra Leone opens.
