Businessman Granted Bail In Alleged US$55,000 Gold Fraud Case

Sierra Leonean businessman Bob Sebastian Peterson, 44, has been granted bail after appearing in court on charges of obtaining money by false pretences and fraudulent conversion in an alleged gold transaction.

Peterson appeared before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2, where he was arraigned on two counts.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offences occurred on December 13, 2024, at Zenith Bank on Rawdon Street, Freetown.

The indictment alleges that Peterson obtained US$55,000, equivalent to NLe1,303,500, from Derick Charles Bull by false pretences.

The prosecution alleged that Peterson represented to Bull that he had one kilogram of gold for sale and intended to export it from Sierra Leone to the United States.

Peterson is further accused of fraudulently converting the money to his personal use after it had allegedly been entrusted to him by Bull for the purchase and export of the gold.

When the charges were read and explained in court, Peterson did not enter a plea as the matter is at the committal stage.

During the proceedings, the prosecution requested a subpoena to serve witnesses who were absent from court.

Magistrate Fornah granted Peterson bail and adjourned the matter to September 14, 2026, for further hearing.

The allegations against Peterson have not been proven in court, and he remains entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.