Augustine Madingo Faces Court Over Alleged Le48,000 Zinc Scam

Augustine Kanssie Madingo appeared before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah at Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown, facing a one-count charge of obtaining money by false pretences under Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act 1916, in connection with an alleged Le48,000 scam involving zinc.

Court records state that between 2024 and 2025, Madingo allegedly defrauded Moses Aiah Komba in Godrich, Freetown, by falsely claiming he had zinc for sale a promise he reportedly knew to be untrue. The offence was committed with the intent to obtain money dishonestly.

When the charge was read, the defendant did not enter a plea.

The prosecution’s first witness, Inspector Mabel M. Tarawally of the Criminal Investigating Department, Pademba Road, testified that she received a formal complaint from Komba on May 5, 2025, which was subsequently assigned for investigation. Statements were collected from the complainant and witnesses on January 9, 2026, after which an arrest warrant for Madingo was executed and produced in court as Exhibit A.

Inspector Tarawally further explained that between January 9 and 12, 2026, she and Detective Police Officer 11676 Kamara A.I. obtained a voluntary caution statement from the defendant, recorded in English after questioning in Krio. Madingo confirmed its accuracy with his right thumbprint, and the statement was admitted as Exhibits B1–16.

On January 13, 2026, the defendant was formally charged with fraudulent conversion, cautioned again, and a charge statement recorded in English was admitted into court records after Madingo verified it with his thumbprint.

Magistrate Jah remanded Madingo to the Male Correctional Facility, and the matter has been adjourned to February 3, 2026, for continuation.