Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Court No. 1 presided over the arraignment of Alimamy Sesay and Mohamed Thullah, who are facing three charges related to fraud. The charges are based on allegations that the defendants sold fake gold dust to a Spanish businessman named Richard Weka Bobuakasi, who was staying at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Aberdeen, Freetown, from March 10th to 18th, 2023.
According to Bobuakasi, Sesay, an employee at Freetown International Airport Lungi, conspired with others to trick him into paying $30,000 for 811kg of gold dust that they did not possess. Sesay and Thullah appeared before the magistrate on May 5th, 2023, and were charged with conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretenses, and causing money to be paid to another with intent to defraud.
The first count accuses Sesay and Thullah of conspiring with others unknown to obtain money through false pretenses. The second count alleges that Sesay obtained $30,000 from Bobuakasi on March 18th, 2023, by falsely claiming to have 811kg of gold dust for sale. The third count accuses Thullah of unlawfully causing Bobuakasi to pay $30,000 to someone claiming to sell gold, knowing that the claim was false.
During the hearing, Defense Counsel Ahmed Atata Mansaray applied for bail, which was granted in the amount of Three Hundred Thousand Leonés each, along with two sureties who must be house owners and provide title deeds for verification by the High Court’s Master and Registrar. The matter was adjourned until May 22nd, 2023, and ASP Ibrahim Mansaray is prosecuting the case.