A 44-year-old businessman, Mohamed Sankoh, has been remanded in custody following his first appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.

Sankoh is facing multiple charges, including fraudulent conversion, forgery of a document, and uttering a forged document, in connection with an alleged fraud involving more than Le100,000.

The charges relate to an incident allegedly committed between July 1 and July 30, 2026, in the Western Area of Freetown.

According to the police charge sheet, Sankoh is accused of fraudulently converting Le100,380 entrusted to him by Alhaji Maju Bah for the purpose of cleaning a container at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay. Police allege that Sankoh failed to use the money for the intended purpose.

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He is further accused of forging a National Revenue Authority (NRA) assessment notice purportedly issued by the authority, with the intention of defrauding Bah.

The police also allege that Sankoh knowingly uttered the forged document as genuine during the same period in an attempt to deceive Alhaji Maju Bah.
When the charges were read to him in court, Sankoh did not enter a plea, as the matter is being handled as a committal proceeding.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh, who is prosecuting the matter, informed the court that the defence had been served with a copy of the police file.

Defence counsel K.B. Hindowa acknowledged receipt of the file and requested a short adjournment. She also indicated that she would not be cross-examining witnesses at this stage, stating that she intended to explore other lines of defence.

Magistrate Fornah subsequently ordered that Sankoh be remanded at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown.

The matter was adjourned to September 8, 2026, for further proceedings.