A mining investor, Louis Cukiewar, told the High Court of Sierra Leone that he gave $44,000 USD to Samuel Waterson Maya, an alleged miner for gold, which he never received.
At the Siaka Stevens Street Court in Freetown, the witness said sometime in April 2016, he came to Freetown as an investor and was introduced to the accused. He said he visited the mine of the accused at a place outside Blama. He said he started negotiations for the mine with the accused and concluded two days later. Prices per kilogram and a monthly pre-financing fee to feed employers were also negotiated, the witness explained.
The witness went on to say that several visits between him and the accused as well as telephone conversations occurred. He said before he left the country for the United States of America, he gave the accused $3,000 USD for him to be able to obtain his mining licence, which had expired. He added that they had agreed on 7 kilos of diamonds per month. The witness also said he gave a middleman named Bernard Kargbo about $50–52,000 USD through whom the accused received subsequent monies on his instruction while he was away.
Cukiewar added that while he was in the States, he waited for the gold to come but did not receive any; later the accused stopped picking his calls. He came back to town to talk with the accused but he shunned him. He decided to take legal actions.
Mayas is charged with ten counts of related offences of Obtaining Money by False Pretence contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone. He is on a bail of Le400 million. The matter was adjourned to 22 November 2017.
ES/8/11/17
By Edna Smalle
Thursday November 09, 2017.
ADVERTISEMENT