Thirty-seven-years-old, Alfred Conteh, a gold miner, has made another appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba road court No.2 in Freetown.
He stood on four count charges to wit conspiracy contrary to law, embezzlement, fraudulent conversion and money laundering.
According to the particulars of offence on a date between 3rd December 2021 to 20th August 2023 at Makoni, village Diang Chiefdom Kabala the koinadugu district the northern province in Freetown with intent to defraud conspired together and with other persons unknown to defraud Alie Condah.
They defraud a total of thirty five thousand two hundred and fifty three point three carats of gold value the total sum of five hundred and thirty eight thousand four hundred and sixty four United States dollars equivalent to the sum of one billion two hundred and sixty two million three hundred Leones on count two on the above date and place.
The accused person was a clerk or servant for Dojo resources (SL) Limited at 41 Bathurst Street Freetown embezzled thirty five thousand two hundred and fifty three point three carats of gold value the total sum of five hundred and thirty eight thousand four hundred and sixty four United States dollars equivalent to the sum of one billion two hundred and sixty two million three hundred Leones property of Alie Condah.
And on count three on the above date and place the accused person fraudulently converted to his own use or benefit certain property that is to say thirty five thousand two hundred and fifty three point three carats of gold value the total sum of five hundred and thirty eight thousand four hundred and sixty four United States dollars equivalent to the sum of one billion two hundred and sixty two million three hundred Leones as property of Alie Condah.
On count four the accused person on the above date and place illicitly converted
thirty five thousand two hundred and fifty three point three carats of gold value the total sum of five hundred and thirty eight thousand four hundred and sixty four United States dollars equivalent to the sum of one billion two hundred and sixty two million three hundred Leones derived from an unlawful activity, property of the said Alie Condah.
When the charge was read and explained to the accused person, no plea was made.
Magistrate Bangura delivered his ruling and he said he had looked at the piece of evidence adduced against the accused person and he was satisfied that the prosecution had adduced sufficient evidence raised a prima face to be answered by the accused person on trial.
Counsel representing the accused person C.Kamara applied for bail for and on behalf of the accused person that he is a Sierra Leonean resident within this jurisdiction. That he had reliable sureties who were willing and ready to go into recognizance on his behalf he would not interfere with prosecution witness or witnesses nor will he jumped bail.
He made his application pursuant to section 120 1 of the Criminal procedure Act No.32 of 1965.
Meanwhile, magistrate Bangura refused bail and sent the accused person to the male facility in Freetown due to the weight of the evidence.
Deputy Superintendent of police Sorie Conteh prosecuted the matter.