Concord Times (Freetown)
Rachel Horner
24 June 2009
Freetown — Some foreign guests at the Bintumani hotel have branded the hotel as a haven for fraudsters also known as 419ers after an American national was allegedly duped the whooping sum of US$59,000 by people posing to be genuine businessmen.
Speaking to Concord Times, American businessman Esperance Clarke said most clients at the hotel are disappointed by the attitude of hotel security guards colluding with 419ers to dupe investors and other foreigners entering the country to set up businesses.
He said two hotel guards, Ibrahim Bangura and Musa Balla Koroma, had volunteered to help find him some business partners after learning that he was in the country to purchase gold dust.
"The two men informed me that they know a businessman who deals in gold and immediately link me with the said individual. The three came with a sample of gold dust which I took to the government gold and diamond office, GGDO and was tested to be real.
"They left and later came with 4 kilograms of gold, for which I paid the sum of US$59,000. I took the item to be exported only to discover it was fake," he lamented.
The two Bintumani hotel guards are said to be in police custody, while the fake businessman is yet to be nabbed by the police.
Clarke said he was convinced the hotel was aware about the deal as the management seems to be turning a blind eye on an issue involving their client. He accused the hotel of deliberately failing to protect its clients from the criminal activities of fraudsters.
Clarke possesses a dealer's license in Sierra Leone to purchase and export gold from holders of artisanal/small-scale mining and dealers.
Another guest at the Bintumani hotel, Willie Johnson also an American, said he was put under house arrest by the hotel management for failing to honour his bills after he was duped of all his money by unscrupulous individuals purporting to be genuine businessmen.
"I was harassed by the management until the American embassy came to my rescue by off-setting my bills," he said.
Johnson said Sierra Leone is still a difficult place for one to operate a business. "Nobody is there to help you when you are confronted with such a terrible situation. A hotel security guard stole my phone but the mobile company was able to trace the individual, who is currently in the custody of the police," Johnson said.
Johnson has a registered company in Freetown named Sierra Education Economic Development.
A female worker at the hotel, who preferred anonymity, said this is not the first time investors coming to do business in the country are being duped. She said in the night, the lobby at the hotel is full with 'con-men' who surveillance the movements of guests with the aid of security guards.
Deputy general manager of Bintumani hotel, Don Thompson denied the allegations.
She said guests should not do business or befriend security guards, as the latter are not working for the hotel but Global Security Watch, a private security company.
"We hire the security company on contract," she said, adding that they always advise guests not to do business with them.
"Bintumani hotel is not responsible for any security personnel involving in 419er deals. The security company should be held responsible for the actions of their staff," she maintained.
Meanwhile, the minister of mines and mineral resources, Alpha Kanu said investors doing business in gold and diamond should go to the Sierra Leone gold refining company.
Kanu said investors in this area should know what is gold and do business with the right people.
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No Government can shield anyone from stupidity, and 419ers bank on the stupidity of their marks. It ain't no greed EITHER: capitalists, bona fide capitalists, are motivated, in large part, by greed, but they ain't stupid. That is why the other side of greed is fear, a rational check on the greed pathos.
Maybe, we're are talking about different things. If you are talking about those transparent and silly stories of "my father left me a zillion dollars, but I can't reach them because of some impediment; therefore, even though I don't know, if you help me get the zillions, I'll give you x percent of the zillions which will be your possession."
The key to these scams is that you are asked to become a criminal: AN IMPOSTOR. Accordingly, the victims of these scumbags are themselves criminals. Stupid criminals.
Government is not in the business of protecting criminals.
By the way, one way the APC soupists can flex their muscles is to crack down on the ladies and gentlemen of the night who are constant visitors to the named entity. And the Johns of these vile creatures are also stupid, although a case can be made that ladies and gentlemen are strung out on something or can't live down some childhood abuse, many times sexual.
Of course, given the power of the "dash," "rub-han", all this is easier said than done in GROUND ZERO.
This is an organised crime.To stop it you need the Government Security to be involved, plus stricter Laws and heavier jail terms for those found gilty of the act.In my next post I will reveal some of the tricks used by fraudsters(419er's,BMB's or BM's)as they call themselves."Experience is the best Teacher". Beaware, even your own Ministers can become potential 419er's or BMB's or BM's.
I feel sorry for the duped businessman.My feeling is directly connected to the human aspect of it. Otherwise, he is paying for not been wise. As a business man, before releasing such cash, he should have enquired and made sure that he is fully aquainted with the laws of the land. With such amount, no government will hesitate to have given him a guide. This is where i find it strange for fickle minded people to blame the government. i really do not see the role of the government and the hotel. curl girls are synonimous with hotels the world over. The hotel management wont start questioning guests. I hope it will not only serve him, but others a serious lesson that will forbid them venturing in to such foly. joe
First of all,I take exception to S.Kanu's direct-alleged accusation of Nigerians as the main perpetrators of 419ers activities in Sierra Leone.I'm not defending the criminal styles of those people,neither am I a part of the cheating games of those "bloody bastards" in my country,calling themselves as 419er's.
Secondly. the deportation of those,some African Nationals in 1999,did not only affect Nigerians alone;though Nigerians were in majority.Even Sudanese were also affected in the crackdown in Libya.The deportation of those Africans in 1999,proved the true approach and sensitivity of the Laws in the Arab Countries-which I sincerely give them a credit.
The strickness and rigidity of their Laws, will make you to respect their Laws,once you are inside their countries.It's no need advising someone to respect the Laws,you'll see the Laws visible,feel the Laws and absorb the Laws in your entire body day-by-day.You can chose to live like a criminal but when you're caught in the act,you'll regret becoming a criminal.
The two Bintumani hotel security guards who were named in the gold dust transaction,must be questioned thoroughly,because they're po- tential Agents of Fraudsters(419ers)in Sierra Leone.419ers don't succeed in such a transac-tion,if they don't get back-ups,like the two Bintumani Security Guards.419ers,always have insiders in their business activities.Some can be Law Enforcement Officers,Ministers and so on.The two security guards have got to answer to many questions that need answers. The game is so deep to understand.I have some questions for Mr.Esperance Clarke in my next post on this topic.
By S.Kanu
The APC government headed by His Excellency Dr. Arnest B. Koroma is on the verge of doing well in restoring political, economic, and social development of Sierra Leone.
But it is apparent that his vision could be hanpered by 419ers criminals especially from Nigeria. As a result, the president must introduce radicalism in his ploitical ananthema.
419ers from Nigeria see Sierra Leone as a virgin society where they could excercise criminal activities for example like the dupping been experienced by American business men at the Bintumani Hotel in Freetown.
If potential business men arriving to invest in the country are'nt protected by the state, then they will eventualy end up some where else where they could receive protection. The government must act swiftly to round up these 419ers before the sitution gets worst. In 1999 Cadaffi rounded up all 419ers in Libya and deported them to their home country Nigeria. Why can't president Arnest B. Koroma do the same.