By Feima Sesay
Ade Idris a business man was on Tuesday 16 May 2023 sent to prison by Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road court No1 for an alleged gold dust fraud.
The accused made his first appearance in court and was arraigned on two counts charges of conspiracy to defraud contrary to law and obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to section 32 (1) of the larceny act of 1916.
The charge sheet indicated that the accused between 1 January 2020 and 25 April 2023 in Freetown obtained the sum of one hundred and sixty- four thousand, five hundred United States dollars ($164,500) equivalent to three billion, four hundred and forty eight million, seven hundred thousand Leones from Stephen Bruce by falsely pretending that he has seventy eight (78) kilograms of gold for sale knowing same to be false.
After the charges were read and explain to the accused he pleaded not guilty to the offense.
The prosecutor, ASP Ibrahim Mansaray requested for a date to subpoena the witnesses, adding that he has just received the file.
The accused was unrepresented in court and so no bail application was made on his behalf. He was remanded in custody until 26 May 2023 for hearing.
