By: Audrey Raymonda John
Forty-two-year-old Sheka Kargbo, a businessman, appeared before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 on two counts of conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money by false pretenses, contrary to the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of the offense, between July 1 and October 1, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Kargbo allegedly conspired with other unknown individuals to commit the crime of obtaining money by false pretenses.
The second count further stated that, during the same period and location, the defendant, with the intent to defraud, obtained the sum of $17,000 (equivalent to 416,500 Leones) from Lateef Belo Osagie by falsely pretending that he had five kilograms of gold bars for sale, knowing this to be untrue.
When the charges were read and explained to Kargbo, no plea was taken.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Dialla Wellington led the testimony of the second prosecution witness, Sheka Kargbo, a civil servant attached to the Ministry of Local Government, working in the Office of the Permanent Secretary at Youyi Building.
Kargbo testified that he recognized the defendant as his friend. On October 1, 2025, while at the office around 11:00 a.m., the defendant called him and inquired if he was in the office. Kargbo confirmed that he was, and the defendant asked if there was available office space, as one of his bosses wanted to hold a meeting. Kargbo informed the defendant that the only available office was an abandoned one.
The defendant visited the office to inspect it, and Kargbo assisted him in cleaning the tables before leaving. However, around 4:00 p.m., Kargbo’s boss, the Permanent Secretary, contacted him and showed him pictures taken in the office where the defendant had been. The Permanent Secretary asked Kargbo if he knew the people in the photos, to which he replied negatively.
Kargbo then called the defendant and informed him that the people he had brought to the office had caused a serious issue. They agreed to meet the following morning at the defendant’s boss’s office who was the Deputy Secretary of Mines.
Kargbo described how the issue was reported to the CID officers at the Criminal Investigation Department, Pademba Road, who subsequently arrested both him and the defendant. Their phones were seized, and statements were taken from them at the police station.
The defense counsel, Thomas Moore Conteh Esq., cross-examined the witness and renewed a previous application for bail on behalf of the defendant.
Magistrate Fornah granted bail to Sheka Kargbo in the sum of 450 million Leones, with one surety in the same amount. The surety must be a senior responsible citizen residing in Freetown, with a fixed address, gainfully employed, and able to provide a valid identity card with proof of residence in Freetown. Bail will be approved by the Deputy Assistant Registrar.
The matter was adjourned to November 18, 2025, for further proceedings.