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Alfred Conteh, a 37-year-old gold miner will be facing trial in the High Court of Sierra Leone, following a ruling by the Magistrate Court determining that he has a case to answer on allegations of embezzlement.
The accused Alfred Conteh appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Court No.1 in Freetown, for conspiracy, embezzlement, fraudulent conversion, and money laundering.
According to the police charge sheet, it is alleged that the accused Alfred Conteh between December 3rd, 2021, and August 20th, 2023, at Makoni Village, Diang Chiefdom, Kabala, Koinadugu District, Conteh conspired to defraud Alie Condah thirty-five thousand, two hundred, and fifty-three point three carats of gold valued at five hundred and thirty-eight thousand, four hundred and sixty-four United States dollars (equivalent to one billion, two hundred and sixty-two million, three hundred thousand Leones).
Conteh, described as a clerk or servant for Dojo Resources (SL) Limited at #41 Bathurst Street, Freetown, is accused of embezzling the aforementioned quantity of gold, which belonged to Alie Condah. He is further charged with fraudulently converting the gold for his benefit, and unlawfully deriving funds from this activity.
During the proceedings, Conteh did not enter a plea after being presented with the charges. Magistrate Bangura ruled that the evidence presented before the court was sufficient to warrant Conteh to stand trial in the High Court.
Following this decision, counsel representing Conteh, C. Kamara, applied for bail on behalf of the accused. However, considering the gravity of the offense, Magistrate Bangura remanded Conteh in custody until his trial in the High Court.
The prosecution is led by Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh.
