Akim Bangura, 53, a businessman, has been incarcerated following allegations of financial impropriety.
Police alleged that between the 1st and 28th of February 2023, at Pademba Road Dwarzak Farm Junction in Freetown, with intent to defraud, he obtained the sum of twenty thousand Leones (20,000) from Zainab Kamara by falsely pretending that he would secure a Canadian visa for her daughter.
Bangura is before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at the Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown, facing a count of obtaining money by false pretence.
However, Bangura entered a not-guilty plea after the charges were read and explained to him in court.
Testifying under oath, the first prosecution witness, Zainab Jalloh, narrated that she met the accused at Benjamin Lane in the company of her friend Adama, who told her that the accused facilitated a travel program for her.
Following the introduction, Jalloh expressed interest for a visa. Based on that, the accused requested that Kamara pay USD 3,000 to facilitate Canadian visa arrangements for her daughter.
Without hesitation, Jalloh returned home and brought Le 18,000 to the accused, for which a receipt was issued. The said receipt was tendered in evidence.
Jalloh also produced receipts of Le 500 and Le 1,500, tendered in evidence. She further produced a signed agreement between herself and the accused person regarding the visa for her daughter.
A few weeks later, Jalloh realized that Bangura could not get her daughter a Canadian visa. She tried in vain to get Bangura on the phone and could not tell his whereabouts.
She decided to report the matter to the police. Bangura was later arrested and charged with court.
Bangura, who was not represented by a lawyer, cross-examined the witness. More witnesses are expected to testify in this matter.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Bangura remanded the accused, and he adjourned the matter to the 24th of June 2024.
