Ebude Chukwu Augustine Essay a thirty-seven year old Nigerian made another appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No.2 on Tuesday, 15th April, 2025 on two count charges.

The accused is standing trial for conspiracy to defraud contrary to law and causing money to be paid to another by means of fraud-contrary to section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.

According to the police charge sheet that on a date between 1st and 19th March, 2025, at Imatt Stanford Lodge, Hill Station, in the western area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, with intent to defraud conspired together with Simeon Sankoh and other persons unknown to commit a crime to wit causing money to be paid to other.

Count two revealed that on the same place and date above, he fraudulently caused Destiny Mentor Nwaokoro to pay the sum of forty-eight thousand United States dollars ($48,000) equivalent to one million, one hundred and fifty two thousand leones (NLe 1,152,000.00) to Simeon Sankoh and Alpha who falsely pretended that they have two (2) kilograms of gold bar knowing same to be false.

When the charges were read and explained to the accused no plea was taken.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh led in Prosecution witness number two Victoria Peters attached to the FSU Mena police station Makeni said she knows the complainant herein as her business partner and that she also knows the accused as the manager for the complainant. She recalled on 1st to 19th March, 2025 the complainant introduced the accused to her as his manager who was managing the affairs of the complainant. She said he has been in charge of all the transactions of the complainant and that it was the accused’s Sierra Leonean wife who introduced them to invest in Sierra Leone on gold. The witness said in the presence of the accused, the complainant told her that he entered into a transaction for the purchase of gold which turned out to be fake and the accused then suggested that they open a toilet business which he asked him how that was to be done and he said it was to involve a Sierra Leonean who should have five percent shares in the company the complainant said he could not because he had been duped. She added that at another time the accused met her and the complainant and he grew angry and vowed that he was going to ensure that the complainant is stuck here in Africa. She furthered that the accused attempted to slap her when she advised him to walk away from all carrying the bag containing all the business cards of the complainant. She said found out through the complainant’s phone that the accused had withdrawn all the money in his credit card. The witness also added that when   she searched the luggage of the complainant she found the passport of the accused therein and it in her possession. She said then transferred the complainant to another hotel. The witness added that the accused called her and asked for his passport and then threatened to levy an allegation against the complainant that he seized his passport. She said he then reported the matter to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters and later made statement to the police, she concluded.

The witness was cross examined by A. Turay.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Bangura adjourned the matter to 5th May, 2025 and bail continues for the accused person.