September 21, 2018
By Patrick Jaiah Kamara
Chief Superintendent of Police Sheku Kamara
A youngman who appeared in a video that went viral on social media a fortnight ago on allegations of printing the country’s currency will be charged to court today, according to Chief Superintendent of Police Sheku Kamara.
Superintendent Kamara was speaking yesterday at the usual government press briefing held at the Ministry of Information conference hall, Youyi Building, in Freetown.
“It is scam. We took over the investigation from Makeni. We have charged the case and the two suspects will appear in court tomorrow (today) for conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money by false pretences. As I told you, it is a scam, he’s not really printing any currency, he only carries that machine to deceive people,” he said.
Superintendent Kamara, who is also head of the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU), said the two suspects – Abu B. Fofanah and Alhaji Bangura- were arrested with a machine and some white papers designed in the shape of money.
A fortnight ago, social media was abuzz with a video of a youngman who was allegedly printing Leone notes. The main suspects were reportedly found in possession of a machine believed to be used for printing fake Leones.
Meanwhile, Director of Community Affairs, Assistant Inspector General Edward Kalia Sesay, said at the same press conference that out of the 34 suspects that were arrested during raids conducted at Matibo and Massingbe villages, 21 have been released on bail while 13 were charged with various offences.
On September 9, TOCU led joint security raids in the aforementioned villages to stem ‘massive’ cultivation of marijuana across the country.
One Abdul Kamara, 29, was reportedly shot and killed during the raid, but nobody has been charged to court as the police are still investigating.
AIG Kalia Sesay said the Independent Police Complaint Board, an institution which board has been dissolved by the government, was investigating the issue and that statements have been obtained from some suspects at the Criminal Investigations Department in respect of death of the young man.
When asked as to whether the Mile 91 Local Unit Commander who had been suspended was part of the investigation, the AIG said: “If there is need to bring him for statements we can do so. The CID is very serious in this investigation.”