Gold fraud – Mines officer fleeces investor’s US$80,000
By: Ibrahim Samura - Freetown on January 23, 2012.
Source of the article: http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/archives/34200An officer of the Ministry of Mines is reportedly a suspect of police investigation of an offence of fraud involving a sum totaling US $80,000.
The Anti Fraud Syndicate of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), last week confirmed arresting and keeping in their cell, Peter Kamara, an officer of the Ministry of Mines concerning an allegation that himself and handful of conmen amidst a Ghanaian Professor Kumba, conspiratorially collected US $80,000 from three Swiss nationals (names not told by the police) claiming they have gold for sale knowing same to be false.
Police sources say Peter was held for a number of days helping the police in their investigations.
That he acted as mines inspector, examined the kilos of gold substances, and later guaranteed payment to cohort con artists by the Swiss foreign investors.
Peter, the police at CID said, was recommended to the Swiss investors by one Professor Kumba, days prior to the arrival of the forenamed investors in Freetown, Sierra Leone to pay for, and collect the kilos of gold.
Professor Kumba, who himself is a fraudster is supposedly residing in Ghana. Police source says however that the plot to swindle money owned by the Swiss investors has international relations.
It is a fact that Peter and other Mines officers in Sierra Leone are cabalists of fraudsters, who on number of times have aided the fleecing of money owned by foreign as well as local investors.
Findings are that officials of the Sierra Leone Ministry of Mines have had countless time overdoing organized crimes; thus aiding ‘491ers’ con artists swindle hundreds of thousands of investors’ money.
Peter, placed one among the rest, our findings state, has timelessly faced the police to react/answer to complaints regarding his involvement in gold and diamond fraud.
Facts as told by detective Superintendent Samuel Kargbo are that gold paid for by the Swiss investors was kept at the Rokel Commercial Bank where later it was eventually proved to be fake.
“The exhibit is with us pending investigation,” he said. “Upon police examination of the purported gold, we’ve proved that the substance was not gold but brownish stones dust.”
Peter was granted bail after spending seven days in police cell. The matter is under investigation.