Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. A witness’s testimony has connected two surveyors to a deceptive land sale scam at Grafton Highway, revealing how they allegedly forged documents to defraud unsuspecting buyers.
The accused persons, Saio Turay, 33, and Fara Bangalie Kamara, 30, both surveyors, on Wednesday 10th September 2025, appeared before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 on four counts related to conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretenses.
According to the particulars of the offence, between May 1st and May 10th, 2024, at Youyi Building Canteen in the Western Area of Freetown, the accused allegedly conspired with unknown persons to commit a felony—obtaining money by false pretenses.
Police added that on the same date and at the same location, the accused persons obtained fifty thousand Leones (Le 50,000) from a complainant, Ansumana Conteh, by falsely pretending they had a piece of land for sale situated at Grafton Highway, knowing this to be false.
Furthermore, on May 1st, at #7C Hill Cut Road, Wilberforce, also in the Western Area, the accused obtained five thousand five hundred Leones (Le 5,500) from Ansumana Conteh by falsely claiming they would prepare his land documents.
Count four states that on the same date and location, the second accused person obtained two thousand Leones (Le 2,000) from the same complainant by falsely pretending to have surveyed his one-and-a-half-town lot situated at Grafton Highway.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused persons, they did not enter a plea.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh, leading the prosecution, called first witness Ansumana Conteh, a driver, who recognized the accused persons in court.
He recounted that between May 1st and May 10th, 2024, he met the second accused at his workplace, where the latter claimed to have land for sale. They exchanged phone numbers, and subsequently, the second accused and his wife, Yatta Sama, accompanied him to Hill Station, where the first accused showed him the land.
The witness stated that he expressed interest and was advised to visit the Ministry of Lands. There, the second accused took him to meet the Director of Lands, Momoh Banya. During the meeting, the second accused claimed ownership of the land and suggested they prepare the necessary documents. The complainant paid five thousand five hundred Leones (Le 5,500) to the second accused for the land’s documentation.
Further, the witness accompanied the second accused and others from the Ministry of Lands to survey the land. He indicated that he paid two thousand Leones (Le 2,000) to cover transportation costs for the survey team, including his elder brother Mohamed Conteh and an elderly man named Pagal.
On the same day, at the Ministry of Lands, the complainant negotiated for the land, agreeing on a price of ninety-five thousand Leones (Le 95,000), down from an initial offer of one hundred ten thousand Leones (Le 110,000). The accused refused to allow him to erect structures until full payment was made, stating they had someone ready to pay if he defaulted.
Eventually, the complainant paid a part of the agreed amount—fifty thousand Leones (Le 50,000)—with assurances of security. They then proceeded to the Canteen to make payment, but the Director of Lands left the scene before the transaction was completed.
The prosecution sought a short adjournment to allow further proceedings.
Magistrate Fornah refused bail and remanded the accused persons to the male correctional facility in Freetown. The case was adjourned to September 17th, 2025.
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