By: Audrey Raymonda John
Yayah Billah Sillah a banker at Access Bank made his first appearance before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road court No.6 in Freetown on two hundred and twenty count charges ranging from Possession of counterfeit notes contrary to section 34(1)(b) of the bank of Sierra Leone act no.5 of 2019.
According to the particulars of on Saturday 17th September 2022 at Access Bank head office Sierra Leone Siaka Stevens street in Freetown was found in possession of one hundred united states dollar notes with serial number ME01504825B reasonably suspected to have been counterfeit or unlawfully obtained.
The charges were read and explained to the accused person and No plea was taken
Sergeant 9939 Mohamed Lahai lead Prosecution witness number one Mohamed Misbow Jalloh Head of Domestic Domestic Operations Access Bank Sierra Leone Limited Narrated what transpired between him and their staff (accused). In his testimony he said he recognized the accused Yayah Bilal Sillah as their staff employed as counting notes officer and recalled on the 17th September 2022, as they were having an anti money laundering training at Access Bank, they also do cash count on the deposit from customers.
He said when he came down to the banking mall having a conversation with the country manager one Sanny then the accused person Yahah Bilal Sillah requested to have a word with him, out of cutesy he told him to wait as he is in discussion with the country manager.
So he went away, but some minutes later the accused came for the second time to talk to him, but he told him to wait.
After the conversation with the country manager he went to the accused and asked him why he requested to see him? Then the accused took out 100 US dollar note and he noticed that it was counterfeit.
The witness furthered that he asked him what he wanted him to do.
The accused told him he wanted to replace the note and as a senior person in the management he could use any other suspected victim to swap the currency.
Then he asked him how many currencies he has?
The accused said forty thousand dollars.
The witness said since he was not sure about the person he was dealing with he asked the accused his name, but he did not answer and he handed over the 100 dollar notes and went outside and explained to the management of Access Bank about the incident and the management called on the Criminal Investigation Department to come and investigate the matter as the accused is in possession of 40 thousand dollars counterfeit notes.
When the CID Officers came from CID the accused Yayah Bilal Sillah was called upon and he went to the bulk room and removed the 100 dollar counterfeit note.
And search was conducted in which 11 thousand dollars counterfeit notes were recovered from him.
The witness furthered that they brought out the note count machine and tested the money but they were rejected which means all the 11 thousand dollars are counterfeit.
And the money was handed over to the Police and the accused was taken to the CID.
The witness was cross examined by the defense Ahmed Atata Mansaray Esq.
Meanwhile Magistrate Ngegba refused bail and sent the accused person to the male correctional center in Freetown.
The matter was adjourned to the 16th February 2023 for further hearing.