By: Edrie. Caleb John
In a hearing before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Court No. 1, Pademba Road, Freetown, Charlie Ahmed Winchester, a 19-year-old Waka Fine Bus validator, was remanded in custody for allegedly forging Waka Fine Bus tickets. The prosecution presented its first witness, Abel Junisa, who identified the accused as a validator for Waka Fine Bus.
Junisa testified that on July 9, 2024, he received a call from his boss about a matter at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) regarding duplicate Waka Fine tickets. At the CID, he met Alpha Kamara, who had 187 duplicate tickets with the same serial numbers, unlike genuine Waka Fine tickets. Junisa stated that Alpha Kamara bought the tickets from Charlie, the accused.
During cross-examination, defense lawyer A.O. Gbla questioned Junisa, who reaffirmed his previous statement. The accused faces three counts: defrauding, forging, and obtaining money by false pretense, contrary to Sierra Leonean law. The police file indicates that Charlie forged two booklets of Sierra Leone Transportation Authority Bus Tickets, also known as Waka Fine.
The defense lawyer renewed a bail application, but Magistrate Kekura refused due to potential interference with the prosecution and the seriousness of the case. The accused was remanded at the Male Correctional Center. The matter was adjourned to September 11, 2024, for further proceedings.
