– A Freetown court on Thursday granted bail to Marwan Malador, manager of Malador Company Limited, who is accused of defrauding a client of $30,000 intended for travel to the United States, judicial records show.
Magistrate Adama Judith Kandeh of Pademba Road Court No. 4 released Malador on bail of 35,700 new leones (approximately US$1,400), with two sureties, both required to be residents of Freetown and to present valid identity cards. Bail is subject to approval by the Deputy Assistant Registrar.
Malador faces two charges: conspiracy to defraud and fraudulent conversion, under Section 20(1)(iv)(a) of Sierra Leone’s Larceny Act of 1916. According to the indictment, on Aug. 26, 2024, Malador conspired with others to defraud Roseline Fatu Cowan of US$30,000 (729,000 new leones), money she gave him for the purpose of arranging her travel to the United States. The charges were read to Malador in court, but he did not enter a plea. Prosecutors said they would call witnesses at the next hearing, and the case was adjourned to Sept. 30, 2025. Ms. Cowan is represented by lawyer Ibrahim S.Y. Kamara.
This case comes amid a growing number of fraud investigations and prosecutions in Sierra Leone in recent years, and heightened public concern over scams and financial misconduct.
• The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has been active in probing large-scale scams, including real estate investment schemes. One such case involved “Motherland City,” where the ACC investigated a company that accepted deposits from prospective homeowners under misleading terms. 
• Regulators and state institutions have issued public warnings about phishing, impostor websites, and fake claims of official affiliation. For example, a recent alert warned of a portal purporting to be the Sierra Leone Securities Commission, used by fraudsters to solicit payments or personal information. 
• The U.S. Embassy in Sierra Leone has also issued alerts about advance-fee fraud schemes, in which victims are persuaded to pay fees upfront in return for promised services, visas, or goods that never materialize. 
Authorities say that many of these frauds exploit gaps in regulation, weak oversight, and lack of public information. In response, the government has pledged to strengthen legal and institutional frameworks to protect citizens, prosecute perpetrators, and improve public awareness.
By John Bangura
