An investor has alleged that he was duped $200,000 by three Sierra Leoneans for a piece of diamond he had wanted to buy for exportation.
This was disclosed during cross examination by the defendant’s lawyer Sulaiman Kabba Koroma yesterday at the Freetown Magistrate Court No1A presided over by Magistrate Adrian Fischer.
The complainant, Terry Yas Kai, said he was duped $200,000 by three Sierra Leoneans with a false pretense of selling him a piece of diamond. He added that the amount of $200,000 was given to one of the accused, Juliet Mboma, for onwards transmission to the other two alleged diamond owners who he said established the link for the business transaction.
The defense lawyer also cross examined one of the principal witnesses, police officer 3375 Omar, who was at the police station when statements were obtained from Ahmed Tejan Koroma and Juliet Mboma.
The defence lawyer argued that his client, Ahmed Tejan Koroma, denied receiving the said amount from neither the investor nor the accused Juliet Mboma for any diamond transaction.
The defense lawyer also argued that his client was reportedly manhandled, molested and intimidated by one assistant at the office of the vice president with orders from the above during the arrest.
The presiding magistrate stated that this would be the fastest criminal trial in the history of courts in Sierra Leone as ruling would be handed down this Friday.
But hearing into the matter continues today.
By Saidu Bah