He informed the court that on the above-mentioned dates, he was on duty at the Economic and Financial Fraud Unit at the Criminal Investigation Department headquarter, when a transfer case file on Conspiracy and Embezzlement was assigned to him for further investigation.

According to the witness, himself and Detective Police Constable Augustine Kamara obtained contemporaneous interview statements from all the accused persons separately, in respect of the charges proffered against them.

He added that they also observed the judge’s rule and all of the accused persons validated their statements by appending their signatures, and that the statements have since been in the custody of the police.

The witness also disclosed that on 6 February 2018, himself and Detective Police Constable Augustine Kamara finally charged the accused persons with the offence of Conspiracy and Embezzlement, contrary to the Criminal Procedure Act of the laws of Sierra Leone.

The matter was prosecuted by Barrister Abdallah Sesay and Magistrate Santigie Bangura adjourned the matter to Monday 7 May 2018.