Indian investor duped US$102,000
Alimamy Hardy Barry, a gold trickster, is in court for allegedly defrauding an Indian investor US$102,000.
Mustapha Moidu (an Indian national) based in London, arrived in Freetown on 18th December 2011, to hopefully do business with Alimamy (accused) a Sierra Leonean.
A friend of Moidu, Dr. Liju residing at 54 Beach Avenue, Swanley, Kent, BR8 8AU London, was the apparent facilitator for the former’s acquaintance with Alimamy.
Their meeting six months prior to Moidu’s arrival in Freetown was based on a business agenda, as he (Moidu) is an ambitious businessman with an ideology for investment capitalism.
Alimamy (the accused) had lured the Indian businessman into buying gold in Sierra Leone at a price that seemed enticing.
$35000 a kilo of gold to a London businessman is half the price internationally and as if hitting two birds with one stone.
Moidu later consulted his cousin Basheer Padikkil, a gold specialist in India on his business expedition and persuaded him be his supporter on his journey to Freetown. During the interval prior to their initial business deal, a letter was received by Moidu from accused Alimamy with an instruction showing the address where he (Moidu) and cousin were to be accommodated.
In the letter, it was indicated that nothing should be discussed with anyone, in fear of the Office of National Security (ONS) and that Moidu should state his purpose of visit as ‘visiting a friend.’
On their arrival to Freetown from Dubai on 18th Dec, Moidu and Padikkil were received at the Lungi National Airport by the accused, who himself had arrived from London the same day with a BMI flight ticket worth £1,200 pounds, a fair financed by the Indian businessman.
The hospitality Moidu and his business supporter received however led to his subduing of his business funds into the hands of a notorious Nigerian fraud tycoon John Barnado Ndu cohort business partner of accused Alimamy.
Alimamy initially introduced the Indian businessmen to friends of his by the names of Ibrahim and Mohamed, who according to investigation have been the inert force propelling the illegal scandal that has caused so much affliction to the future economic prospects of Sierra Leone.
On 20th December, the two Indian businessmen were accompanied by Alimamy and two of his accomplices Ibrahim and Mohamed to meet with a purported gold dealer called Foday Kabila, a business associate of the accused.
Negotiations went ahead on 21st December and Moidu and adherent were given the assurance of a sample of the gold to be sold.
They were presented with a gold ring as a token of gratitude for offering to do business with the con artists.
The transaction between Moidu and Foday Kabila never went through at all.
Alimamy felt compelled to offer more to his new business associates and therefore urged Moidu and Padikkil that he has one last dealer that would definitely offer them a very loud deal.
Hence the encounter with John Barnado Ndu. Mohamed, Alimamy and the Indian businessmen later met with John Barnado Ndu at No 15A Off Spur Road, an address assumed to be the office of John.
’We were warmly welcomed by Barnado when we arrived. He bragged about how beautiful Sierra Leone is and withdrew to his area of concern,’ Moidu explained.
‘We agreed on purchasing two kilos of gold at a price of US$102,000 including tax and export fee, a transaction we completed the following day.’
‘The other day Alimamy told me he is utterly disappointed will not accompany me to complete the deal as he was having an urgent meeting with a state minister.
‘At this time I was very unsettled and I disapproved of any transaction taking place. I made that clear to him (Alimamy), but he assured me Barnado was a straightforward man, I should trust him equally.’
‘Mohamed and I got to John’s office at 15A Off Spur Road. Barnado revealed the gold to us and assured;y said it will be handed over after it has been melted and sealed by the Government Gold and Diamond Office (GGDO) by the next day.’
‘He demanded for a part payment of US$102,000, and it was made in cash to him by me,’ Moidu continued.
‘I later explained about the deal to Alimamy, but noticed he seemed quite uninterested and in a disfigured mood.’
When later I went to Barnado’s office at around 11 am, I was greeted by a young woman who handed over a receipt of US$350,000 for 10 kilograms of gold. She explained that Barnado had left it for us. I realized straight away that I had been duped.’
The Alimamy, our findings reveal, made an attempt to escape after demands from the Indian businessmen, but did not.
The Indian businessmen later notified the immigration office. The accused, who was on his way, was later caught at the Sierra Leone-Guinea border.
The complaint was investigated by the police and charges later proffered even though the principal culprit, John, is yet to be located.
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2012, https:. All rights reserved.
