By Fatmata Bundu
An alleged three thousand five hundred United State Dollars vehicle fraud case before Magistrate Peter Gorgra of Waterloo Western Rural District Magistrate Court No.2 has been adjourned to 28th October 2024 for hearing.
The matter is between the Inspector General of Police (IGP) verses Moriba Tunkara (owner of the vehicle in question) and AbuBakarr Sesay, who is presently on the run.
The adjournment was due to the absence of the second accused whose bench warrant was ordered in the last sitting, and is still in effect. The complainant, Fatmata Jah, who was earlier seen within the Waterloo Court premises, putting on white polo and jeans trousers with a face mask, failed to make appearance when the case was mentioned yesterday before the sitting Magistrate Gorgra.
The reason(s) for the absence of the complainant, who always comes to court in wraps was not communicated in open court. For this season, Magistrate Peter Gorgra proceeded to adjourned the case.
The first accused, Moriba Tunkara, presently on bail and his legal representative, Lawyer J Garber were present in Court in the matter came up.
Counsel representing the first accused informed the court that he is to cross examine Fatmata Jah who testified before the court. He intimated the court that the conduct of the second accused, AbuBakarr Sesay, and the complainant is leaning towards their suspicion of connivance on the side of the very complainant, the second accused and the other person on the run.
In the interest of Justice and fair hearing, counsel for the first accused informed the court that on the next adjourned date, he may apply for a separate trail for the first accused, Moriba Tunkara so that the continuous absence of the second accused, Abu Bakar Sesay will not delay the hearing, and prejudice the case for the first accused. Counsel also stated that once that is done, progress will be made and would apply for the vehicle in question, which is in the custody of the complainant to be tender in Court as exhibit.
Moriba Tunkara and Abu Bakarr Sesay who is on bench warrant of arrest, are answering to two counts charges of alleged conspiracy to defraud and causing money to be paid contrary to the laws.
It will be recalled that on the 14th August 2024, Moriba Tunkara was contacted on his cell phone by unknown persons expressing interest for a Highlander Jeep of 2006 Model that he Tunkara advertised to the public for sale.
He also gave his location to the interested person that contacted him, and five of them, four males and one female by the name of Fatmata Jah came to his place at Waterloo.
Tunkara, in his statement made at the police said they agreed at a cost of eight thousand five United State Dollars for the vehicle. He added that after the agreement, the unknown persons, including Fatmata Jah and Abu Bakarr Sesay left, promising to come on the following date to do payment.
On the 15th August 2024, he went on, the same people including Fatmata Jah and Abu Bakarr Sesay visited him as promised to do payment on the agreed price.
According to Moriba Tunkara, the alleged customers for the vehicle called on him to take the vehicle to a nearby garage which he did, adding that while he was outside the garage with one of his brothers, all five persons entered the garage.
According to Tunkara, the purported buyers went in and after some time, they came out and rushed at him, alleging to have paid three thousand United State Dollars for the vehicle.
He was demanded to release the vehicle key and the vehicle document, and upon refusal he was manhandled. He managed to call a police friend, Inspector Bob Lamin formally attached to the Waterloo Division but presently deployed at Kent, who came to his rescue, and they were all taken to the Waterloo Police Station.
At the Waterloo Police Station, he went on, the matter was taken to the Crime Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), J.B. Lansana for investigation.
The accused said that statement was obtained from him but was not allowed to call witnesses including the police officer who had rescued him, and after that he was detained for three days. He continued that his mobile phone was also impounded from him by the police on the grounds that it was to be investigated by the cyber unit. The phones from the other parties were not taken by the police. Whether any cyber investigation was done on Tunkara’s phone is yet unknown.
ASP JB. Lansana later came and told Tunkara that based on the advice from the Law Officers’ Department, key and all documents to the vehicle should be handed over to Fatmata Jah, who now stands as complainant, and that the matter be charged to Court at the same time.
On the first appearance in court, the accused persons were refused bail and remanded for a couple of days. They were also refused bail on the second appearance and remanded at the Pademba Road Maximum Male Correctional facility. During the third appearance, Tunkara was granted bail based on the application made by his Counsel.
The second accused who was unrepresented was also granted bail without an application made on his behalf.
