The ongoing highly alleged fraud case involving Dennis Frank Charlie, a 28 year old basketball player and Abubakarr Alpha Shaur, a 32 year old banker were again arraigned before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No.2 on Wednesday 24th September, 2025 on three count charges of conspiracy to defraud contrary to law, larceny contrary to section (2) of the Larceny Act 1916 and causing money to be paid by false pretences, contrary to section 32 (2) of the Larceny Act of 1916.

According to the particulars of offence, both accused on Monday 16th June 2025, at Sky Bank Waterloo Branch, in the Waterloo Judicial District, in the western rural area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, with intent to defraud, conspired together with other persons unknown and defrauded Sky Bank Sierra Leone Limited.

Count two stated that you Dennis Frank Charlie on the same date and place above, did steal the sum of one hundred and forty two thousand leones (NLe142,000) using Sky Bank Sierra Leone Limited cheque with number 00003179 and account number 1070460240101015 property of Sky Bank Sierra Leone Limited.

Count three furthered that accused Abubakarr Alpha Shaur on the same date and place, fraudulently caused the payment of one hundred and forty two thousands leones (NLe142,000) to Vandy Boima by means of false pretences.

When the charges were read and explained to the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty on all count charges.

The Prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police Dalia Wellington led in prosecution witness number two Melvin Campbell who is the Country head of operations for Sky Bank and is responsible to supervise and monitor all staffs working for the said bank recognized the 2nd accused as a colleague, but didn’t recognize the 1st accused.

Melvin recalled that on 16th June, 2025, something happened between both accused at the said Bank when they had a meeting at the Bank to discuss and verified all accounts debited and credited on monthly basis where they discovered that the account of the 1st accused was debited the sum of (NLe142,000).

He disclosed that they then recommended for internal investigation where it was revealed that the account of the 1st accused went into debit by Vista Bank which was processed by the 2nd accused and the management demanded for the recovery of the said amount, adding that the 1st accused withdrew what doesn’t belong to him and issued the payment of the cheque.

Melvin pointed out that the matter was reported to the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters where he made statement which was produced and tendered as “Exhibits D1-8” and the copy of the cheque issued by the 1st accused was also identified as exhibit Z.

The defense counsel A.R. Kargbo for the 1st accused applied for bail on behalf him that he is still a staff working for the said Bank in question and has reliable sureties to stand in his recognizance.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Fornah refused because of the seriousness of the offence charged and sent him to the male correctional center in Freetown.

The case has been adjourned to the 1st October, 2025 for continuation.