By: Audrey Raymonda John
A 44-year-old businessman, Bob Sebastian Peterson, has been granted bail after appearing before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on allegations of obtaining money by false pretences and fraudulent conversion.
Peterson is charged with two counts: obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916, and fraudulent conversion, contrary to Section 20(1)(iv)(a) of the same Act.
According to the prosecution, on 13 December 2024, at Zenith Bank on Rawdon Street in Freetown, the accused allegedly obtained US$55,000, equivalent to NLe1,303,500, from Derick Charles Bull by falsely representing that he had one kilogram of gold available for sale and would export it from Sierra Leone to the United States of America. The prosecution alleges that the representation was false and was made with the intent to defraud.
The prosecution further alleges that Peterson fraudulently converted the money to his own use after it had been entrusted to him by the complainant for the purchase and export of the gold.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused, no plea was taken.
During the proceedings, the prosecution informed the court that, on the instructions of the complainant, it was seeking a two-week adjournment to allow the parties to pursue an alternative course of action in the matter.
Counsel for the defence, S. Komeh, subsequently applied for bail on behalf of the accused.
In his ruling, Magistrate Fornah granted Peterson bail in the sum of NLe1,500,000, with one surety in like sum. The court ordered that the surety must be a senior and responsible citizen residing in Freetown with a fixed address, provide proof of gainful employment, and produce a valid national identification card together with an employment identification card. The bail conditions are subject to approval by the Deputy Assistant Registrar (DAR).
The matter has been adjourned until 20 July 2026 for further proceedings.