By: Audrey Raymonda John
A sales agent, Ibrahim Idrissa Fornah, has been remanded in custody after appearing before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on two counts of fraudulent embezzlement and money laundering.
Fornah, employed by Excel Biolife SL Limited, is accused of embezzling the sum of Le460,709 between March 1, 2024, and January 27, 2025, while serving as a sales agent responsible for distributing pharmaceutical drugs and receiving payments. The charges state that he fraudulently took the money, which belonged to his employer, Gautam Govind Rath.
The second count alleges that Fornah converted the embezzled funds to build houses, knowing the money was derived from unlawful activity.
The charges were read to the accused, but no plea was taken.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh, representing the prosecution, requested a short adjournment to confer with the prosecution witnesses.
In his application for bail, defense counsel H. Kamara Esq. argued that Fornah is a Sierra Leonean resident with reliable sureties willing to guarantee his bail. He assured the court that Fornah would not interfere with the prosecution’s witnesses nor flee. The defense cited Section 79(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act No. 32 of 1965 in support of the bail request.
However, Magistrate Bangura denied bail due to the serious nature of the charges. Fornah was sent to the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown, and the matter was adjourned to March 11, 2025.
