A Chinese National businessman, Zhou Wenjie, made his first appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No.2 in Freetown on four count charges of Conspiracy to defraud, Forgery and two counts ranging from Uttering of a Forged document.

According to the particulars of offense, it was alleged that on the 9th December 2020 in Freetown Pioneer Power Engineering Company Sierra Leone Limited with intent to defraud conspired together with other persons unknown in the preparation of a forged document with Rokel Commercial Bank account opening from with Account number 11-1014871 dated 9th 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 further stated that on the same date and place the accused person with intent to defraud Forged the signature of a Zhang Ke and Youg Yining on certain documents to wit a Rokel commercial 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 the intent to defraud, uttered a certain Forged document to wit Rokel commercial Bank account opening from with account number 11- 1014871 dated 9th 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.

No plea was taken when the charges were read and explained to the accused person.

The prosecuting counsel, CCE Komoh Esq, seeks a short adjournment date for his first witness.

Counsel representing the accused person, A.B Jalloh Esq, made an application for bail on behalf of the accused person, stating that he has a fixed address within his jurisdiction and is not a flight risk. He will not interfere with prosecution witnesses or witnesses, nor will he jump 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 they were not objecting to bail but invited the magistrate to note the weight of the charges.

Magistrate Bangura granted the accused person bail in the sum of fifty thousand Leones with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be responsible Sierra Leonean residents in Freetown and show proof of their residence and address. The defendant must surrender his passport and other traveling documents in his possession. Bail will be approved by the master and registrar of the High Court of Sierra Leone. The matter was adjourned to 17 October 2024.