By Mamajah Jalloh
On Monday, November 11, 2024, Zhou Wengie, a Chinese national, was once again arraigned before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No.2 on four charges of Forgery, Uttering, and Conspiracy to Defraud.
The charges stem from an incident on December 9, 2020, in the Western Area of Freetown, where Wengie allegedly conspired with others to forge documents in an attempt to defraud Pioneer Power Engineering Company Sierra Leone Limited.
The forged documents, including a Rokel Commercial Bank account opening form, were purported to have been signed by authorized signatories of the company.
The account, numbered 11-1014871, was presented to the bank as being officially opened on behalf of Pioneer Power Engineering Company, with Wengie as a key figure in the operation.
The first count of the charges states that on the same date, Wengie conspired with unknown persons to create the forged document, while the second count accuses him of forging the signatures of Zhang Ke and Youg Yining, the authorized signatories of the company, on the account opening form. Counts three and four focus on Wengie allegedly uttering these forged documents to the bank with intent to defraud, suggesting that the signatures of Zhang and Youg were falsely represented.
During the proceedings, Alusine Hudo Jalloh, a director of the company, testified that Wengie had been a shareholder since the company’s incorporation on December 9, 2020, and had responsibilities including managing the production of goods and acting as a liaison officer for the company.
Jalloh explained that the accused person had opened an account at Rokel Commercial Bank without the knowledge of other shareholders. He further testified that significant sums of money, amounting to billions of old Leones, were deposited into this account, although such funds should have been directed into the company’s Eco and Vista bank accounts.
According to Jalloh, Wengie also withdrew large amounts of money from this account, thereby depriving the company of its funds.
Jalloh confirmed that the account mandate contained three signatures, one of which was Wengie’s, but stated that the other signatories were no longer involved with the company.
When questioned during cross-examination by defense lawyer A.B. Jalloh, the witness acknowledged that the company had been incorporated in 2018, with Zhang Ke as the largest shareholder holding 90%, while Wengie owned the remaining 10%.
The defense also raised the question of whether it was possible for a shareholder like Zhang, who was out of the country, to have signed the documents. Jalloh clarified that despite this possibility, Zhang had not signed the documents in question.
The case was adjourned to November 22, 2024, for further hearing.
