By: Audrey Raymonda John
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 at Pademba Road Court No. 2 on Wednesday, 24th September 2025. They face three charges related to fraud: conspiracy to defraud, larceny, and causing money to be paid by false pretenses, all in violation of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of the offenses, count one states that on Monday, 16th June 2025, at the Sky Bank Waterloo Branch in the Western Rural Area, the two defendants conspired with unknown persons to defraud Sky Bank Sierra Leone Limited.
Count two notes that Dennis Frank Charlie is accused of stealing the sum of One Hundred and Forty-Two Thousand Leones (NLe 142,000) using Sky Bank Sierra Leone Limited’s cheque (No. 00003179, Account No. 1070460240101015), which was the property of the bank.
Count furthers that Three Abubakarr Alpha Shaur is accused of fraudulently causing the payment of One Hundred and Forty-Two Thousand Leones (NLe 142,000) to Vandy Boima by means of false pretenses.
Both accused persons pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read and explained in court.
The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Dallia Wellington, called Melvin Campbell, the Country Head of Operations at Sky Bank, as their second witness. Campbell oversees the bank’s operations and monitors staff conduct. He identified Abubakarr Alpha Shaur as a colleague, but did not recognize Dennis Frank Charlie.
Melvin Campbell testified that on 16th June 2025, the bank held a meeting to verify the debits and credits of all accounts. During this meeting, they discovered that the account of Dennis Frank Charlie had been debited by the amount of NLe 142,000. He noted that an internal investigation revealed that the debit was processed through Vista Bank by Abubakarr Alpha Shaur. Management then demanded the recovery of the amount, stating that Charlie had withdrawn money that did not belong to him and had issued a payment cheque fraudulently.
Campbell further explained that the matter was reported to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, where he made a statement. The statement was tendered as “Exhibits D1-8,” and a copy of the cheque issued by Charlie was identified as “Exhibit Z.”
The defense counsel, A.R. Kargbo, applied for bail on behalf of Dennis Frank Charlie, arguing that he was still employed by Sky Bank and had reliable sureties willing to stand in his recognition. However, Magistrate Fornah denied the bail application, citing the seriousness of the charges. Charlie was remanded to the male correctional center in Freetown.
The case has been adjourned to 1st October 2025 for the continuation of the trial.