Freetown, April 2026 — A man identified as Peter Lahai has allegedly impersonated a Communications Specialist attached to the Office of the President, and reportedly defrauded two Sierra Leonean women based in the United States of America of US$31,900.
According to police report, the money was allegedly obtained under the pretext of facilitating a travel programme to the United States. A formal complaint was lodged at the Ross Road Police Division by Dr. Sesay, a resident of Freetown, acting on behalf of the victims.
Police sources say Lahai is currently hiding. Officers, accompanied by Dr. Sesay, visited his residence twice but were unable to locate him. Attempts to reach him via mobile phone have also proven unsuccessful.
Alleged Modus Operandi
The victims claim they were introduced to Lahai in 2024 through an elderly woman in the United States, who presented herself as the mother-in-law of Lahai’s fiancée. The woman allegedly vouched for Lahai, saying he had facilitated her own travel to the U.S.
During subsequent communications via phone calls, text messages, and audio recordings, Lahai allegedly introduced himself as a Communications Specialist at State House and claimed he could arrange confidential travel using service passports. He reportedly assured the victims that, due to his position, he could easily facilitate travel to the United States and Europe.
Based on these assurances, the victims agreed to pay a total of US$30,000 in two instalments. The first payment of US$19,800 was made on November 13, 2024, and the second payment of US$11,100 was completed on December 7, 2024. Lahai allegedly issued a written undertaking, committing to deliver by February 24, 2025.
Failed Promises and Fake Documents
The victims allege that Lahai later sent them a soft copy of a service passport bearing what appeared to be a U.S. visa stamp. However, scheduled travel dates in December 2024 and February 2025 failed repeatedly, with Lahai reportedly offering inconsistent excuses.
Suspicious of delays, the victims conducted independent checks and allegedly discovered that the visa was fake. They immediately demanded a refund, but efforts to recover the money through Lahai, his alleged mother-in-law, and other intermediaries proved unsuccessful.
Admission and Unfulfilled Refunds
The victims claimed that in February 2026, Lahai was reportedly contacted. He allegedly admitted to receiving the money and promised to refund it by March 2026. He also claimed that unnamed associates linked to the offices of the Vice President and Chief Minister had disappointed him. As of this report, however, no refund has been made.
The Sierra Leone Police are continuing investigations into the matter.
Premier News has made several attempts to contact Lahai to obtain his side of the story, but those efforts have proven futile.