March 22, 2016 By Hawa Amara
One Abdul Koroma, who allegedly forged a United States permanent residential visa and attempted to use it at the Lungi International Airport, was yesterday put on Le50m bail after the prosecution failed to produce a witness to testify on the matter on three consecutive sittings.
The accused had been arraigned at the Freetown Magistrates’ Court No. 1, presided by Magistrate Dr. Abou Bakarr Binneh-Kamara, on one count of altering forged document contrary to law.
According to Magistrate Dr. Binneh-Kamara, the bail must be approved by the Master and Registrar and that the accused must have a surety in like sum who is a resident owner of property within the Western Area Urban District.
He also ordered that the surety must either produce a bank statement worth at least Le30m or a title deed.
The particulars of offence are that the accused on Wednesday, 10 February, 2016 attempted to use a forged United States permanent residential visa to travel to the said country at the Lungi International Airport.
The matter continues on Tuesday, 29 March, 2016.
In another development in the same court, Magistrate Dr. Binneh-Kamara committed a matter involving one Melvin Pratt to the High Court. He was alleged to have robbed one Charles Tharm and catered away a mobile phone valued Le1.5 million.
Magistrate Dr. Binneh-Kamara noted that the prosecution had called two witnesses – one factual and one formal – and that the evidence led against the accused in the court was sufficient to warrant the matter’s committal to the High Court.