In a troubling incident, Reverend John Binneh Conteh of the Living Stone Evangelical Ministry in Makeni found himself embroiled in a legal battle on Wednesday, January 15th, 2025. Conteh was accused of defrauding a colleague of a significant sum of $7,000.

Conteh was brought before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Court No. 2 to answer for the alleged offense. He faced charges of conspiracy to defraud and causing money to be paid through fraudulent means, as outlined in Section 32 of the Larceny Act 1916.

The prosecution claimed that Conteh, along with others, conspired to deceive and defraud an individual named Mark Alusine Kamara in October 2024 in Pamalap, Kambia District. It was alleged that Conteh orchestrated a scheme where Kamara paid $7,000 to Francis Koroma under false pretenses of purchasing a Sprinter vehicle.

Upon hearing the charges, Conteh did not enter a plea. The case was adjourned to Monday, January 20th, 2025, for further proceedings.