Njala University Student Duped for Visa

By Feima Sesay

Alladinor Francess Koroma, a Student from Njala University has  on Thursday 10th August drag to court before magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road court No1 for allegedly defrauding two women  of NLE 82,500/00 for visa to Canada.

The accused persons Josephine Bintu Kosia and Fanta Manga were  arraigned on twelve counts charges ranging from conspiracy to defraud contrary to law, obtaining money by false pretences contrary to section 32 1 of the larceny Act 1916, causing money to be paid and other related matter all contrary to the  laws of Sierra Leone

Accord to the charges,the accused persons on a date unknown between November 2022 to April 2023, in Freetown  conspired together with other person’s unknown and obtained from Alladinor Francess Koroma, Violet Jeneba Johnson, Abdul Kowa, Christina Mannah the total  sum of NLE 82,500/00 with the pretext that, they will facilitate their  traveling to Canada knowing same to be false.

The witness led in evidence by ASP Ibrahim S Mansaray said she is a student of Njala University and she recalled diverse dates between November 2022 to April 2023. She said on the said dates, she received a called from her elder brother informing her about a traveling agency to London, upon receipt of the information, she received telephone call from the first accused inorder to met her at Dwazark .

“The following day I went to meet with the first accused at Dwazark , she to me to give a deposit of 10 million so that she could facilitate the proced and that o should pay the remaining give million in two days”, she narrates.

On the following day, she said she contacted her sister in America who gave her the balance five million Leones, adding that upon receipt of the money, she said took it to the first accused who promise to issues a receipt later to her elder brother.

According to the witness, the accused conducted an interview for her but said during the process she notices that the   question they asked her does not relate to the traveling process. She said they promised to conduct a trained for her and they did for three month.

The witness said she brought three of her friends on the request of the accused and they also paid their money. She said they took photos during the training. The said photos were produced and tendered in court as evidence against the accused persons. Since then, neither her nor her friends have traveled or received their monies.

During Cross examination by defense lawyer Chernor Kamara the witness said she came to know the accused in this matter and said she does not know the procedures to obtain a Visa. When she was asked whether a receipt was issued to her she said no but the accused promised to give her elder brother the receipt.

Defense counsel applied for bail on their behalf pursuant to section 79 of the criminal procedure Act 1965. Bail was refused by magistrate Mark Ngegba and the matter adjourned to the 17th August 2023.