By: Audrey Raymonda John
Six individuals, including businesspeople and agents working with Orange Mobile Money, have been charged in connection with the theft of a total sum of 19,878,360 Leones from Access Bank via the Orange Mobile Money platform. The accused appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No. 2 on three charges, including conspiracy to defraud and larceny by servant.
The accused are Yusif Turay (businessman), Ibrahim Thullah (agent), Ishmael Nat, Thomas (businessman), Hassan Gibrill Kargbo (businessman), Alhaji Santigie Sesay (businessman), Sheriff Osman Sankoh (businessman).
The charges state that between March 24th and 25th, 2025, at various Access Bank branches in the western area of Freetown, the accused conspired together with other persons unknown to defraud Orange Mobile Finance Limited of 19,878,360 Leones.
According to Count 2, the accused, while acting as agents operating Orange Mobile Money for Orange Mobile Finance, used the Orange Money Wallet-to-Bank transaction platform to steal the same sum from a bank account operated by Orange Mobile Finance Limited.
Count 3 details another theft incident that occurred in Rotifunk, Lungi in the Kaffu Bullom Chiefdom, Port Loko District, where the accused allegedly used the same Orange Mobile Money platform to steal 19,878,360 Leones from the same account.
When the charges were read and explained, the accused did not enter a plea.
Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sorie Conteh, led his witness during the proceedings. Alhaji Tholey, the head of Orange Mobile, continued his testimony, stating that after Access Bank was alerted, an investigation was launched, which led to the identification of Yusif Sesay, the first accused. Tholey added that the fifth accused was arrested in Lungi. He emphasized that the six accused, along with another agent, had transferred the stolen funds from the Orange Money account to Access Bank.
Tholey further confirmed that he had provided a statement to the police at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), along with documentation showing the withdrawn amounts.
The case has been adjourned to April 17, 2025, for further testimony and cross-examination by the defense counsels.