April 28, 2021
By: Francis F.M.Harding
First Police Witness (PW1) and also the head of Human Resource at VISTA Bank, Abdulai Ibrahim Kanu has testified before Magistrate Mark Ngegba on the 26th April, 2021 at the Pademba Road Court in Freetown in a case involving Alfred Saquee Kamanda, Mohamed Mallan Kamara, George Yammah, Steven Okeke, Joseph Chibuze Peters and John Emmanuel Eze who are allegedly accuse of Larceny by Servant and Larceny contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The particulars of offence state that on the 24th January, 2013 to 2018 the accused persons at the First International Bank now the Vista Bank allegedly stole from the said bank the sum of Thirty six Million Leones (Le 36,000,000/00) which was credited to Account Number 102-067-404-01 with account name George Yammah being a servant or employee at the First International bank now the Vista Bank.
Under cross examination, Defense Lawyer Elvis Kargbo for the first accused person asks if he was the Human resource Officer of the said bank. The witness said he was the Human Resources officer of the said bank. He continued to show the witness documents of his client. He started with an increase double salaries as a result of his first client (first accused person). The witness disagreed with him; witness said it was a progression of salary.
Defense Counsel asked for the date and the individual that signed the letter. Witness said it was Chineri Wanlor as she was the Head of Human Resource. Defense counsel shows him another document for the promotion of Assistant Head Finance at the said bank.
The final document the Defense Counsel for the first accused person produced in court was his client resignation letter which the bank accepted. Defense Counsel asked if the witness was aware for the consultancy that the bank offers to his client for three months. Witness said he is not aware. Defense Counsel Kargbo said that the evidence given against his client from 2013-2018 the witness does not know anything about his client.
The witness said by the time he took the position the first accused person was working at the bank. He continued that he was attached to the training department at the Human Resource Unit. On the first appearance of the witness last week; he was asked to produce his employment letter of which he produced and tendered to the court.
Defense Counsel asked the witness to produce his letter of appointment as the Head of Human Resources Officer; his response was that the bank does not issue appointment letter, rather delegate responsibilities. The witness also confirmed that since 2013-2017 there was no Head of Human Resource in the said bank.
Defense Counsel for the fifth accused person, M. Kamara Esq produced the termination letter of his client to the witness and asked if the witness was aware of the termination letter. The witness said he does. Defense Counsel for sixth accused person D.E Taylor asked the witness to show the court the certification of the manual. Witness said there is a signature of the said document. Defense counsel asks if the witness has the evaluation form in court, he said no.
Defense Counsel Taylor produced many documents to the witness for him to ascertain their authenticity. The one about advert that was given to Concord Newspaper, Awoko Newspaper, and Standard Times Newspaper. Witness said there was inconsistency in the dates and the signature.
M.Bitter and Caroline A.B Sesay represented the State, while Lawyer Elvis Kargbo and E.T.Lassyo represented the first accused person; Campbell represented the second accused person, M.Lassayo for the third and fourth accused persons, M.J.M Sesay and M.Kamara for the fifth accused person and D.E.Taylor for the sixth accused person.
Defense counsel Elvis Kargbo renewed his application for bail for the accused persons. He made this application pursuant to section 79 sub-sections 2 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965 and section 23 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone. Bail was granted with a surety of 2 billion Leones each. The matter has been adjourned to the 4th May, 2021.