Court Adjourns Case of Guinea National Accused of Defrauding $300K

Freetown, Sierra Leone – On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, Luke Foromo Bereteh, a 46-year-old Guinea businessman, appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Court No. 2, facing charges of conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money by false pretenses.

The charges stem from incidents that occurred between January 1, 2020, and October 6, 2024, in Freetown. Bereteh is accused of conspiring with others to defraud Ishmael Kondeh, obtaining $300,000 (equivalent to 720 million Leones) by falsely promising to invest in gold mining operations and return the funds, a claim that was later proven to be false.

Upon reading and explaining the charges, Bereteh pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh requested a short adjournment due to the absence of a key witness.

Magistrate Bangura granted bail to Bereteh in the amount of one billion Leones, with two sureties in a similar amount. The sureties must be property owners in the western area of Freetown, with properties valued at no less than half a billion Leones. The sureties must also have bank accounts containing at least half a billion Leones. The bail conditions are subject to approval by the master and the Deputy Assistant Registrar.

The case has been adjourned to December 4, 2024, for further proceedings.