Sierra Leone News: Alleged Timber fraud…Richard Konteh, Alie Suma denied bail again Richard Konteh, Alie Suma spend weekend in jailThe former Chief of Staff at State House, Dr. Richard Konteh was yesterday remanded at the Pademba Road Prison for the third consecutive time, together with Alie Suma and Leslie Peter Crosby. They have been charged for allegedly conspiring to defraud the State of the sum of Le 4, 45, 882, 020 (four billion forty-five million eight hundred and eighty-two thousand and twenty Leones). The matter was prosecuted by State Prosecution counsel, Monfred M. Sesay, while the first accused, Alie Suma was represented by Counsels C.F.Edwards, M. Pius Sesay and Julian Cole. The second accused Dr. Richard Konteh was represented by Counsel R.S. Wright, Pa Momoh Fofanah while Leslie Peter Crosby was represented by Lawyer R.B. Kowa. Representing the Prosecution, State Counsel Monfred Sesay led the prosecution witness 2 in evidence, the Senior Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry Sanah Marrah, who was rubbing his eyes and cheek as if he was crying, while answering to questions and requested for a bottle of water at some point, when he almost ran out of words, inside the witness box in his dark brown safari suit. According to the witness, he received a correspondence from the first accused, Alie Suma, requesting for assistance from him to have a clearance from the State House to export 30 containers of valued-added processed timber, which he (the witness) minuted to the Director of Trade on the 21st February 2014, explaining that a letter was sent from his Ministry addressed to the Shipping Agencies in respect of the export of 30 containers of valued-added processed timber and that another letter was also sent by the Director of Trade, Ahmed Akar to the Managing Director of Sierra Leone Port Authority (SLPA) giving the approval of the said export. The witness was about to tender a letter that was sent to him from the former Chief of Staff, Dr. Richard Konteh which was also copied to the Commissioner-General National Revenue Authority, General Manager SLPA and the Inspector-General of Police, among others, when Counsel R.S. Wright objected, stating that the said document is a photocopy and the subject matter for which the second accused stands trial that has to do with forgery, as the court cannot accept such a copy, adding that normally an expert is needed to check the signature, font of the letter and even the language used in writing the letter. Responding to the objection, State Counsel Monfred Sesay stated that the purpose of the present document, relies on two legal requirements and that it should first be established as a nexus between the document and the witness and the document must be relevant which according to him, they have already established, as the witness had earlier on stated that the document was copied to him and he kept it in his file and that it is very relevant to the subject matter of the trial. Counsel C.F. Edwards and E.S Wright renewed their bail application on behalf of the accused persons as they have been in custody since the inception of the matter, as they have reliable sureties to ensure they are always in court to ensure the smooth running of the matter. Monfred Sesay adopted his previous objection on the bail application. Magistrate Komba Kamanda adjourned the matter to Thursday 10th July for ruling on the objection raised by the Defense Counsel in relation to the tendering of the letter from the Chief of Staff, and remanded the accused in custody. Tuesday July 08, 2014 awoko.org/2014/07/08/sierra-leone-news-alleged-timber-fraudrichard-konteh-alie-suma-denied-bail-again/
Posted on: Wed, 09 Jul 2014 12:46:49 +0000
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