By: Audrey Raymonda John
Forty-four-year-old entrepreneur Bob Sebastian Peterson has been granted bail after appearing before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on two counts of 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 indictment, on December 13, 2024, at Zenith Bank on Rawdon Street in Freetown, Peterson allegedly, with intent to defraud, obtained US$55,000, equivalent to NLe1, 303,500, from Derick Charles Bull.
The prosecution alleged that Peterson falsely represented to Bull that he had one kilogram (1kg) of gold for sale and would export it from Sierra Leone to the United States of America, knowing the representation to be false.
The prosecution further alleged 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 one kilogram of gold to the United States.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused, no plea was taken, as the matter is proceeding by way of committal proceedings.
During the proceedings, the prosecution applied for subpoenas to be issued and served on absent prosecution witnesses.
Magistrate Fornah subsequently adjourned the matter to September 14, 2026.
- Komeh, Esq., is representing the accused.