Two men accused of defrauding a complainant in a fake gold deal have been granted bail after their first appearance before Magistrate Mustapha Brima Jah at Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1 in Freetown.
The accused, 25-year-old businessman Isaac Jeptha Mamatta and Ibrahim Al-Wahhab Bah, are facing two counts of conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offence took place on an unknown date in December 2025 at Metchem, Goderich, in the Western Area. The two accused, together with others still at large, allegedly obtained US$13,000 and Le20,000 from Paul Joseph Francis after claiming they would sell him three kilograms of gold and arrange for its shipment to Dubai. Prosecutors say the representation was false.
The second charge alleges that the accused fraudulently obtained the same amount from the complainant under the same alleged false promise of supplying and exporting the gold.
No pleas were taken after the charges were read because the matter is before the court by way of committal proceedings.
Prosecutor Inspector Kadie M. Taylor informed the court that copies of the case file and inquiry file had already been served on defence counsel.
Magistrate Jah granted both accused bail in the sum of Le500,000 each, with two sureties each. The sureties must provide proof of employment, produce valid identification cards, and the bail is subject to approval by the Deputy Assistant Registrar.
The matter was adjourned for further proceedings.
