Freetown – Charlie Ahmed Winchester, a 19-year-old validator for Waka Fine Bus, has been remanded in custody after appearing before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Court No. 1, Pademba Road.
Winchester is facing charges related to the forgery of Waka Fine Bus tickets, including defrauding, forging, and obtaining money by false pretense.
The prosecution’s first witness, Abel Junisa, identified Winchester as a validator for Waka Fine Bus.
Junisa testified that on July 9, 2024, he was alerted by his boss about a situation at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) involving duplicate Waka Fine tickets.
At the CID, Junisa met Alpha Kamara, who was found with 187 duplicate tickets bearing identical serial numbers, unlike the authentic Waka Fine tickets. According to Junisa, Kamara claimed to have purchased the tickets from the accused, Charlie Winchester.
During cross-examination, defense lawyer A.O. Gbla challenged Junisa’s testimony, but Junisa stood by his statement.
The police report alleges that Winchester forged two booklets of Sierra Leone Transportation Authority Bus Tickets, commonly known as Waka Fine tickets.
The defense’s request for bail was denied by Magistrate Kekura, citing concerns about possible interference with the case and the gravity of the charges.
Winchester has been remanded at the Male Correctional Center, and the case has been adjourned to September 11, 2024, for further hearing.
