Two businessmen, Alimamy Sesay and Mohamed Thullah, appeared before Magistrate Marke Ngegba of the Pademba Road Court No.1 on charges of conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by pretense, and causing money to be paid to another with intent to defraud. The charges stem from an alleged crime committed between March 10th and March 17th, 2023, in Freetown, where the accused persons conspired with unknown individuals to obtain money by pretense.
Alimamy Sesay was accused of obtaining $30,000 with false pretenses on March 18th, 2023, at Radisson Blu Hotel in Aberdeen, Freetown, claiming to have 811 grams of gold dust for sale. Mohamed Thullah was accused of causing money to be paid by Ricardo Weka Bobuakasi to one alias pastor who purported to be selling gold, knowing it to be false.
The charges were read and explained to the accused persons, and no plea was taken on counts one and two, but the second accused person pleaded not guilty to count three. The prosecutor sought a short adjournment date for count three as his witness was absent.
The lead Counsel Jessie M Jengo representing the accused persons applied for bail, stating that they were Sierra Leonean residents within the jurisdiction, not at flight risk, and would not interfere with prosecution witnesses or witnesses. He further mentioned that they had reliable sureties willing to go into recognizance on their behalf, under section 79 2 of the Criminal Procedure Act No.32 of 1965. However, Magistrate Ngegba refused bail, and both accused persons were sent to the male correctional center in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to April 28th, 2023, for further hearing.