By Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter, D.S.
On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, Abraham Cooper, the Deputy Director of Surveys at the Ministry of Lands, took the witness stand before Magistrate Augustine Brima Samura at Pademba Road Court No. 8 in a case involving two surveyors accused of forgery.
The defendants, Ahmed Mansaray (39) and Maligie Kanu (33), appeared in court facing multiple charges related to the alleged forgery and submission of counterfeit National Revenue Authority (NRA) survey receipts to the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning (MLHCP) at Youyi Building in Freetown.
Cooper testified that on June 10, 2025, Mansaray submitted three survey plans accompanied by NRA payment receipts through an assistant, Paul Turay, to charting officer Charles Senesie. Senesie flagged the documents as suspicious due to the absence of the NRA-issued One-Time Password (OTP), a security feature integral to all valid transactions. The receipts, dated March 24 and 25, 2025, were linked to survey plans numbered NA 35205, NA 34125, and NA 32201, each claiming a payment of Le53 allegedly made by Isatu Isha Dumbuya.
Cooper stated that the matter was promptly referred to the Environmental Crime Unit at CID Headquarters, and he provided a formal statement regarding the incident. The seven-count charges against the accused include:
- Count 1: Conspiracy to commit a crime, contrary to law
- Counts 2–4: Forgery, contrary to Section 2(1)(a) of the Forgery Act of 1913
- Counts 5–7: Uttering forged documents, contrary to Section 6(1)(2) of the Forgery Act of 1913
The prosecution, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Joan M.S. Bull and Detective Police Constable 14898 Joseph Lamin Dumbuya, attempted to submit the forged receipts as evidence. However, defense counsel A.O. Gbla objected, arguing that Cooper was not the author or custodian of the documents. The prosecution countered that, as Deputy Director, Cooper had legal custody of the files since they were submitted to his department for processing. Magistrate Samura ruled in favor of the prosecution, allowing the receipts into evidence.
During questioning, Mansaray admitted to submitting the documents but claimed that Kanu had issued the forged receipts, a statement that Kanu denied. At the conclusion of the hearing, Magistrate Samura denied bail, remanding both defendants to the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown. The case has been adjourned for the official tendering of the original survey plans.
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