By: Audrey Raymonda John
A 29-year-old Ivorian musician, George Bull, has been remanded in custody following his appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on eight counts of alleged fraud-related offences.
The accused is facing charges including conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretences contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916, forgery contrary to Section 4(1) of the Forgery Act of 1913, and uttering a forged document contrary to Section 6(1) of the Forgery Act of 1913.
According to the police charge sheet, the defendant allegedly conspired with other persons unknown between 15 December 2025 and 15 January 2026 in Freetown, Western Area, to commit a crime, namely obtaining money by false pretences.
Counts Two and Three allege that on 23 and 24 December 2025, at Goderich Road, Lumley, Freetown, the accused, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of US$10,000 (equivalent to NLe 237,000) from Mustapha Koroma. He allegedly claimed that he had transferred the said amount into Koroma’s account at GTBank Lumley Branch. Based on this alleged false representation, Mustapha Koroma was induced to hand over the money, said to be the property of Foday Mohamed Koroma.
Count Four further alleges that on 26 December 2025, at the same location, the accused obtained US$25,000 (equivalent to NLe 592,500) from Mustapha Koroma by falsely claiming that he had transferred the funds into the latter’s bank account at GTBank Lumley Branch.
Counts Five and Six state that on 23 and 24 December 2025, the accused allegedly forged wire transfer confirmations and receipts dated 24 December 2025, purporting to show that US$10,000 had been transferred into Mustapha Koroma’s account at GTBank Lumley Branch, knowing the documents to be false.
Counts Seven and Eight allege that on the same dates and at the same location, the accused knowingly and fraudulently uttered forged wire transfer confirmations and receipts dated 23 December 2025, presenting them as genuine while knowing they were false.
When the charges were read to the defendant, no plea was taken.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh, prosecuting, informed the court that the defence had been served with a copy of the case file.
Defence counsel cross-examined the first prosecution witness and applied for bail on behalf of the accused, arguing that he had reliable sureties who would stand on his behalf and that he would not interfere with prosecution witnesses. The application was made pursuant to Section 76(1)(c) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 2024.
However, Magistrate Fornah refused bail on the grounds that the accused is a foreign national from Ivory Coast and may be a flight risk.
The matter has been adjourned to 5 March 2026 for further proceedings.