Francis Morlai Lincoln, a staff of the Ministry of Environment has on Tuesday 6th June 2023 testified before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba Road Court No1 as to how he defrauded over 13 million by one Abdulai Turay who claimed to be a lecturer at Njala University.
The accused was arraigned before the court on six count charges ranging from obtaining money by false pretenses and personation contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The charge sheet indicated that the accused on 3 April 2023 at Robert Lane, Jui in the Western Rural District, falsely pretended to be a PHD holder and a lecturer at Njala University, Bo Campus and under such assume character obtained Thirteen million Five Hundred Thousand Leones from Francis Morlai Lincoin and his friends, by falsely pretending that he will facilitate their post graduate scholarship programmes to study at Njala University, knowing to be false.
Led in evidence by Sergeant 9939 Lahai M. the witness Francis Morlai Lincoin said he is a civil servant, working at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, as he recognized the accused in the dock.
He recalled on 3 April 2023, whiles sitting at their shop when the accused met him said to him that his face looked familiar and said that they both studied at Njala University which he confirmed.
He said the accused told him that he is a PhD holder now and lectures at Njala University. He added that he lectures Masters students.
The witness said the accused then told him that he will help him pursue his Masters at Njala University since he is a lecturer and he took the accused to his parents and they were excited and they paid him the sum of One million Five Hundred Leones as advance so that he can fast track the process.
He said the accused told him that he has five space and if he has relatives or friends who want to do their Masters he can help them but it not free as it cost Five million, but for his sake they should pay Three million each.
The witness continued that he immediately informed his friends Mark, Sheka, Aron and Sahr, he said each of them gave the accused Three million Leones each together with their passport pictures and details of their information.
He said the accused confirm to him each time he received the money sent by his friends but did not produce receipt of the payment were made.
He said the accused later informed his friends asking them if they have friends who also want to do their Master and he will help them and his friends called him and told him about the accused request and he immediately called the accused and told him that he said he had five space but why now he is still asking for more people.
He said it was at this point that they knew it was a fraud and they went to Njala University to confirm if they have Dr. Abdulai Turay as lecturer at the college and they said they did not know anyone by that name.
He said since then, he try calling the accused but his phone was switched off.
At this juncture Magistrate Ngegba adjourned the matter, saying that there are other files that he wanted to deal with.
Defence counsel Abdulrahman made an application for bail on behalf of the accused.
He was refuse bail and the matter was adjourned to 13th June 2023 for continuation.
