By: Edrie Caleb John
On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, Chinese national Zhou Wenjie appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown, facing four counts of conspiracy to defraud, forgery, and uttering forged documents.
The particulars of the offense state that on December 9, 2020, in the Western Area of Freetown, Zhou allegedly conspired with unknown individuals to prepare a forged document—a Rokel Commercial Bank account opening form—purporting to be signed by the authorized signatories of Pioneer Power Engineering Company Sierra Leone Limited. This document was presented to the bank with the account number 11-1014871.
The second count alleges that Zhou forged the signatures of Zhang Ke and Youg Yining on the same account opening form, again with the intent to defraud.
Counts three and four detail that on the same date, Zhou purportedly uttered the forged document, again representing it as having been signed by the majority shareholders of Pioneer Power Engineering Company SL Limited.
When the charges were read, no plea was entered by the accused.
Prosecuting Counsel CCE Komoh Esq. requested a short adjournment to call the first witness. In response, defense counsel A.B. Jalloh Esq. applied for bail, asserting that Zhou has a fixed residence in the jurisdiction and is not a flight risk. He emphasized that the accused would not interfere with witnesses or abscond, referencing Section 79(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965 and the Bail Regulation of 2018.
The prosecuting counsel did not object to bail but urged the magistrate to consider the seriousness of the charges.
Magistrate Bangura granted Zhou bail in the sum of fifty thousand Leones, requiring two sureties who must be responsible Sierra Leoneans residing in Freetown. The sureties must provide proof of residence and addresses. Additionally, Zhou is required to surrender his passport and any other travel documents in his possession. Bail approval is subject to the Master and Registrar of the High Court of Sierra Leone. The case has been adjourned to October 17, 2024, for further proceedings.
