By Mamajah Jalloh
Zhou Wenjie a Chinese National business man on Wednesday, 9 October, 2024 made his first appearance for his trial before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No.2 in Freetown on four count charges to wit Conspiracy to defraud, Forgery and two count ranging from Uttering of a Forged document.
According to the particulars of offence on the 9 December 2020 in the western area in Freetown with intent to defraud pioneer power engineering Company Sierra Leone Limited conspired together and with other persons unknown in the preparation of a Forged document to wit Rokel Commercial Bank account opening from with Account number 11-1014871 dated 9 December 2020 purporting to have been signed by the authorized signatories of the pioneer engineering company SL Limited presented to the Rokel Commercial Bank
Count two revealed that on the same date and place the accused person with intent defraud Forged the signature of Zhang Ke and Youg Yining on certain documents to wit Rokel Commercial Bank Account opening from with account number 11-1014871 dated December 2020 purporting to have been signed by the authorized signatories of pioneer power engineering company SL Limited the account holder at Rokel Commercial Bank.
Count three and four further stated that on the same date and place the accused person with intent to defraud uttered a certain Forged document to wit Rokel Commercial Bank account opening from with account number 11-1014871 dated 9 December 2020 purporting to have been prepared and signed by Zhang Ke and Youg Yining the majority shareholders of pioneer power engineering Company SL Limited held with the said Rokel Commercial Bank
When the charges were read and explained to the accused person No plea taken.
The prosecuting counsel CCE Komoh Esq seeks for a short adjournment date for his first witness.
Counsel representing the accused person A. B. Jalloh Esq made application for bail on behalf of the accused person that he has a fixed aboard within his jurisdiction and he is not a flight risk he will not interfere with prosecution witness or witnesses nor will he jumped bail he made his application pursuant to section 79 2 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1965 and refers to bail regulation 2018.
The prosecuting counsel said that they’re not objecting to bail but invites the magistrate to note the weight of the charges.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Bangura granted the accused person bail in the sum of fifty thousand Leones with two sureties in like sum sureties must be responsible Sierra Leoneans resident in Freetown and must show proof of their residence and addresses the defendant to surrender his passport and as other travelling documents in his possession bail to be approved by master and registrar of the High Court of Sierra Leone. Therefore, the case has been adjourned to the 17 October 2024.
