By Elizabeth Kamara
Martin Alimamy Kargbo, self-identified as a Land Agent from the United Real Estate Organization, is currently under investigation by Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Court No. 1 on charges of Conspiracy to commit a crime and Causing Money to be paid to another by means of false pretenses, in violation of section 32(2) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
In the first count, it is alleged that between November 13, 2023, and December 21, 2023, in Freetown, with the intent to defraud, the accused conspired with unknown persons and obtained the sum of One Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand Five Hundred Leones by falsely claiming that one Christian Martin had two and a half town lots of land situated at Peninsular Road for sale, knowing it to be false.
In the second count, the accused, acting as a staff of United Real Estate Organization, fraudulently caused one Jariatu Sumner, a businesswoman, to pay the said amount of One Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand Five Hundred Leones to Christian Martin as part payment for the sale of two and a half town lots of land, knowing it to be false.
During the court proceedings, witness Jariatu Sumner, a businesswoman, testified that she knew the accused as a land agent and recalled the date of the incident. She mentioned that they were in search of land to buy, and the accused introduced himself as a Land Agent.
They discussed the land purchase, and the accused informed her that the land was owned by Christian Martin.
After negotiations, the accused charged her NLE 150 million, and they went to her lawyer to further discuss the matter. They arranged to meet at Guma building with the lawyer, and Christian Martin brought the documents. The witness, along with her lawyer, visited the land four times for verification.
After the verification process, the witness paid the sum of NLE 137,500 as part payment for the land to Christian Martin. The prosecution requested a date for further proceedings, and the matter was adjourned to February 29, 2023.
The accused has been remanded at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road.
