Senior manager at the currency department, Bank of Sierra Leone (BSL) Alhaji Mohamed Kabba on Friday 20th November 2020 testified against Alie Koblo Koroma after he allegedly produced bundles of counterfeit United States dollar notes. Koroma is currently before Magistrate Mark Ngegba at the Freetown Magistrate Court No 2 on Pademba Road in Freetown on a preliminary investigation into the above allegation.
In his testimony to the court, Alhaji Mohamed Kabba said his responsibility at the BSL was to count notes, verify counterfeit notes, safe custody of items on behalf of the government, among others. Kabba disclosed that on 5th August 2020, he received a request from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) that was submitted to the Bank Governor by the head of CID for the examination and verification of 16 pieces of $100 note suspected to be counterfeits.
Kabba furthered that on 21st September 2020, a reply was forwarded by the Bank Governor through the director of banking to the head of CID on Pademba Road, Freetown confirming that the 16 pieces of $100 notes were counterfeits. The request from the CID and the BSL reply were tendered in court to form part of the records.
The witness added that on 17th August 2020, another request was submitted to the Bank Governor by the head of CID for another verification and examination of 88 bundles of $100 notes alleged to be counterfeits. On 21st September 2020, a reply was forwarded from the bank to the CID head confirming that they were not genuine $100 notes, and therefore counterfeits. He also disclosed that two of the counterfeits were taken to the American Embassy in Freetown for further verification, and the result was the same.
The counterfeit dollars were handed over to the police for further investigation and to produce them in court as exhibits. At the end of the witness’ testimony, defence counsel C. Campbell Esq. cross examined him.
The accused is on bail.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Mark Ngegba adjourned the matter to 30th November 2020.
By Sulaiman Karim Sesay