Ministry of Lands Staff Member Remanded on Land Forgery and Fraud Charges

A support staff member of the Ministry of Lands has been remanded in custody on charges of land forgery and fraud. The accused faces multiple counts, including forgery, conspiracy, and unlawful entry onto state land.

Appearing before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown, the individual answered to five serious charges: conspiracy to commit a felony, forgery, uttering forged documents, trespass, and obtaining money by false pretenses.

On February 13, 2025, at the Ministry of Lands in Freetown, the accused allegedly conspired with unidentified individuals to commit forgery. On the same date and at the same location, the individual is accused of forging a survey site plan with intent to defraud, falsely presenting it as authentic.

Additionally, the accused is charged with uttering a forged survey plan, LS number 313/25, purportedly for 1.1090 acres of land at Kotopema Macdonald, off Peninsular Road, Freetown. This document was allegedly signed by Hewith Jones and claimed to belong to Sheku Jawara and Mrs. Isata Selvine Jawara, despite the accused's knowledge of its inauthenticity.

On January 3, 2025, the accused is alleged to have unlawfully entered state land at Kotopema Macdonald, disregarding prior warnings. Furthermore, between January 1 and 6, 2025, at Bar Junction, Grafton, the accused allegedly obtained 17,000 Leones from Mr. Jawara under false pretenses, claiming to survey land and produce an accurate plan.

Abraham Cooper, Deputy Director of Surveys and Lands at the Ministry of Lands, testified that on February 13, 2025, a man presented a survey plan at their office. Upon examination, Mr. Cooper identified the document as forged, noting that the LS number had already been assigned to another property owned by Derick A. Fullah, with a different acreage and signed by Hewith Jones.

Mr. Cooper stated that he notified the Anti-Land Grabbing Unit and identified the accused as the individual who prepared and signed the fraudulent document. He also confirmed his ability to recognize the document in court and pledged to produce the original in due course.

Defense counsel, Lawyer I. Turay, Esq., sought bail for the accused. However, Magistrate Fornah denied the bail application, citing the gravity of the charges. The case has been adjourned to June 19, 2025.