By Mamajah Jallloh
Freetown, Sierra Leone, Crispin Kelvin Decker a forty-four years old businessman on Friday, 25th, October, 2024, made his final appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No.2 on five count charges to wit Conspiracy to Defraud contrary to law two count ranging from obtaining money by false pretences and two count ranging from causing money to be paid by false pretences.
According to the particulars of offence on a date between 1 to 30 March 2024 at Dundas Street the western area in Freetown conspired together and with other persons unknown and defrauded Juliana Pratt and Saudiatu Janjue Brown
Count two further stated that on the same date and place the accused person with intent to defraud obtained the sum of Two Thousand United States Dollars and Thirty Thousand Leones all to the total value of Seventy Sight Thousand Leones (Le78, 000.00) from Juliana Pratt by falsely pretending that he will provide Canadian Visa and at the same time facilitate his travelling to the said country for her children Victor Pratt and Fatmata Kanu knowing same to be false.
Count three further stated that on the same date and place the accused person with intent to defraud obtained the sum of twelve thousand Leones (Le12, 000.00) from Saudiatu Janjue Brown by falsely pretending that he will provide Canadian Visa and at the same time facilitate his travelling to the said country knowing same to be false
Count four further stated that on the same date and place, the accused person with intent to defraud unlawfully caused money to be paid by Juliana Pratt Seventy Eight Thousand Leones (Le78, 000.00) as payment for the travelling process for her children Victor Pratt and Fatmata Kanu to Canada knowing same to be false.
Count five further stated that on the same date and place with intent to defraud unlawfully caused money to be paid by Saudiatu Janjue Brown Twelve Thousand Leones (Le12, 000.00) as payment for her travelling process to Canada knowing same to be false.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused person on his first appearance no plea taken.
The prosecutor Sergeant 8811 Francess Mitchel Wilson lead her witnesses the file was withdrawn for judgment.
Magistrate Bangura delivered his judgment that the prosecution presented four witnesses.
They all testified and were cross-examined. At the end of the case for the prosecution, defence counsel filed a no case to answer submission on behalf of the accused. He therefore withdrew the file for ruling. In determining whether or not the accused has a case to answer, he consider the fact that he is only Cooking for sufficient evident establishing a premare face to be answered by the accused. The prosecution is therefore charged with the burden of adducing sufficient evidence in that regard.
He further considered the no case submission was made by the defence counsel and the reply thereto by the prosecution. he also consider the fact that the accused admitted in his statement made to the police tendered in evidence as “Exhibit Al-15” that indeed he received money from the complainants herein for the purpose they are claiming, but not commensurate to the amount they are claiming.
Considering the fact that at this stage when a no case submission has been filed, I am only looking for premare face evidence against the accused. So, his mere admission has established more than a premare face case for him to answer in view of this piece of evidence, he rule that the prosecution have been able to adduced sufficient evidence pointing to a premare face case to be answered by accused on trial he future committed the matter to the High Court
Counsel representing the accused person C. Kamara renewed and adopted his previous Bail applications on behalf of the accused person. Meanwhile Magistrate Bangura granted the accused bail in the sum of one hundred thousand Leones with two sureties in like sum these sureties must be resident in Freetown must be recognised by their councillor or tribal heads the said sureties must be gainfully employed and must show proof of that bail to be approved by the Master and Registrar.
