By: Audrey Raymonda John
Forty-six-year-old Luke Foromo Bereteh, a Guinean national, made another appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on two counts: Conspiracy to Defraud and Obtaining Money by False Pretences, contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, on diverse dates between 1st January 2020 and 6th October 2024, in Freetown, the accused allegedly conspired with unknown individuals to fraudulently obtain money by false pretences.
The second count alleges that Bereteh fraudulently obtained the sum of $300,000 USD (approximately Le720,000,000) from Ishmael Kondeh, falsely claiming he was going to invest the money in a gold mining operation and would return the amount knowing this to be untrue.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused in court, no plea was taken.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Joan M. S. Bull led the prosecution and called the fourth witness, Tamba Joseph Gaoga, a police officer attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Pademba Road.
Officer Gaoga testified that on 8th September 2024, while on duty, the complainant brought the accused to the CID office and reported a case of conspiracy to defraud. The case was assigned to him for investigation. He confirmed obtaining statements from the complainant and other witnesses.
On the same date, together with DPC 18591 H.M. Kamara, Officer Gaoga obtained a voluntary caution statement from the accused in Krio, which was translated and recorded in English. After being read back and explained, the accused admitted to the content and affixed his right-hand thumbprint. The statement was produced and tendered in court as part of the evidence.
On 16th September 2024, Sub-Inspector Hassan Kargbo, in Gaoga’s presence, formally charged the accused with Conspiracy to Defraud and Obtaining Money by False Pretences, using the same procedure as with the caution statement. The charge sheet and DPP advice were also tendered in court as part of the record.
The witness was cross-examined by defense counsel F.A. Kamara Esq.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Bangura adjourned the matter to 6th April 2025, and bail was continued for the accused.