By Musa Paul Feika
Magistrate Marke Ngeba, who presides over at the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No.2, has sent one Francis Wilson at the Male Correctional Centre, Padamba Road in Freetown, for allegedly obtaining sixty five thousand United States dollars ($65,000) from Francis Morrison Johnson (complainant), which is equivalent to six hundred and seventy six million Leones (Le676,000,000), by false pretending that he had fifteen (15) kilograms of gold for sale, knowing the same to be false.
The incident occurred sometime in 1st April, 2021 at College Road, Goderich in Freetown.
Francis Wilson, who was residing at No. 8 Johnson Lane Aberdeen in Freetown, is before the court for the offences of conspiracy to commit a felony and obtaining money by false pretences, which are all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
According to the police, Francis Wilson, sometime in April, 2021, at College Road Goderich in Freetown, conspired together with unknown persons and defrauded Francis Morrison Johnson sixty five thousand United States dollars, by falsely pretending that he had gold for sale, knowing the same to be false.
The charge sheet furthered that, on the same date and address, Francis Wilson obtained from the complainant twenty thousand United States dollars, by falsely pretending that he had fifteen kilograms of gold for sale, knowing the same to be false.
When the charges were put to the accused, he pleaded not guilty. Though defence counsel, S. Bangura, applied for bail on behalf of the accused, but he was refused bail and remanded. The matter was adjourned to 9th July, 2021.