Magistrate Sahr Kekura presiding at the Pademba Road court No 1, last Wednesday remanded Hassan Lee, former employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs over fraud allegation, at the on Pademba Road in Freetown.

The Accused, Lee, was arraigned before Magistrate Kekura for obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to section 32(1) of the larceny Act of 1916.

Police alleged that on a date unknown between 1st to 30th April,2022, at the ministry of internal Affairs, Gloucester Street in Freetown, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of Four Thousand United State Dollars ($4000) equivalent to Forty-Three Million Leones (Le43,000,000) from Complainant Samuel Tarawallay by falsely pretending that he will facilitate his travel and five others to Australia, knowing same to be false.

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Led in evidence by Sergeant Dwight Macarthy, the witness Samuel Tarawally the accused person in the dock.

He recalled that between 1st to 30th April 2019, he received information about a scholarship program at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Tarawallie said went with his friend to check at the office and on arrival; they met the accused who confirmed same to them.

The witness said after discussing with him, he told them that there is another program for Australia. “My Lord at that time he was the Secretary to the former minister”, he said Explaining further, the witness said he enquired about the program which the accused told him cost One Thousand United States Dollars.

The witness said after deliberating on the issue, he and his friend gave the accused Four Thousand United State Dollars equivalent to forty-three million Leones for as part payment for the Australia program from three of his colleagues inside the Minister’s office in the presence of his colleagues. He said that the accused asked that they check on him after three days, but when it was apparent that he could not be seen, Tarawallie and others went to the ministry where they learnt that that he had caused havoc and had run away, adding that the minister himself was in search of him.

The witness said he decided to call the accused on his cell phone and he was giving him excuses. He said he went and identifies him after he was being apprehended.

Tarawallie added the they were referred to central police station before the matter was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Cross examine by defense counsel, the witness said he heard about the program for which he and his colleagues went to cross check, adding that it was his aunt who escorted him and his friends to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The witness further stated that he was the one that collected the money from his friends and handed it over to the accused. In another question put to him, the witness said he did not get document to ascertain the fact, but there was somebody present when the transaction took place.

According to Momentum Newspaper, from the evidence adduced so far, Magistrate Kekura remanded the accused, noting that he has not paid a dime to the complainant and he adjourned the matter.