An alleged notorious fraudster named Emerson Bockarie is currently remanded at the Male Correctional Center on Pademba Road in Freetown, Sierra Leone, after appearing before Magistrate Wilbrie John at Pademba Road Court No. 7 and denied bail.
He is charged with defrauding Teresa Kamara of $50,000 under the pretense of a gold mining investment. Bockarie faces two counts: Conspiracy to Defraud and Obtaining Money by False Pretenses, in violation of Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
The charges allege that between February 17 and June 7, 2024, he conspired with unknown individuals to deceive Kamara into believing he would mine gold and ship it to her in the United States, a claim he allegedly knew to be false.
Kamara testified, identified Bockarie and explained that they became acquainted via Facebook and later communicated through WhatsApp. Bockarie proposed a gold business partnership, which Kamara accepted. She stated that she began sending him funds for the mining venture, while he consistently provided various excuses regarding its progress.
Kamara presented court evidence including records of the funds she sent to Bockarie and fraudulent documents related to the purported gold company.
She also explained that the funds were intended for her retirement and that she had borrowed some of the money from two American banks.
Bockarie’s defense counsel, M. Glofa, cross-examined Kamara and requested bail for the accused. However, Magistrate John denied the bail application, citing Bockarie’s lack of a fixed address and the fact that he was apprehended in Liberia. The case is set to continue tomorrow January 15, 2025.
