Former Minister Konteh Details Land Payments, Denies Showing Plaintiff Gloucester Property

Former Minister Konteh Details Land Payments, Denies Showing Plaintiff Gloucester Property

In a significant land dispute case presided over by Justice Manuela Harding at the Freetown High Court, Dr. Richard Konteh, a former Minister of Finance, provided key testimony regarding a land transaction with the plaintiff, Marie Sesay.

During Tuesday's proceedings, Dr. Konteh confirmed that his bank account details were associated with three payment receipts totaling $8,000 made by Ms. Sesay for a parcel of land at Mamah Street, Gloucester. The receipts, dated March 25, 2010, were submitted as evidence by the plaintiff's counsel, Augustine Sengu Marrah, to substantiate the financial transfer.

Dr. Konteh explained that the transaction began in 2009 while he was actively engaged in both business and his role as Minister of Finance and Economic Development. He stated that he provided his bank details to facilitate the land payment.

Under cross-examination, Dr. Konteh clarified that the plaintiff never physically viewed the Mamah Street property because she was abroad at the time. Instead, he sent her a copy of the survey plan, which he acknowledged was not presented to the court. The witness further noted that Ms. Sesay received conveyance documents for the land in 2011, despite her continuous absence from the country between 2009 and 2019.

Questions were raised about a 2013 incident where Dr. Konteh, then serving as Chief of Staff at State House, allegedly showed Ms. Sesay a different, sloped plot of land at Mamah Street, which she subsequently rejected. Dr. Konteh denied any recollection of showing her that specific property and claimed he was unaware she had been shown the Gloucester property.

The court also heard that Dr. Konteh knew Abdulai Baratay, who worked with him, but he denied any involvement in or knowledge of the complaints lodged by Ms. Sesay regarding the land dispute. He asserted that he only met Baratay around 2018 and had no direct intervention in the matter.

Furthermore, Dr. Konteh denied receiving an additional $2,000 from Ms. Sesay beyond the $8,000 paid for the land and fencing. He explained that his bank account was "choked" during the period in question, which prevented easy fund access—a situation he had reported to the police. Despite these financial difficulties, he stated he did not demand payment during that time.

The cross-examination concluded with the lawyer indicating that other matters would be addressed later. During re-examination, the plaintiff's lawyer successfully objected to the defense counsel's attempt to introduce new evidence, arguing it would be procedurally unfair after Dr. Konteh had completed his testimony.

The case has been adjourned until February 24, 2026, for the continuation of evidence hearing. In the ongoing legal action, Ms. Sesay is seeking the recovery of two town plots at Mamah Street, Gloucester, along with the restitution of $2,000 paid for fencing and the $8,000 transferred to Dr. Konteh’s bank account in the United States.