By: Audrey Raymonda John
A 32-year-old businessman, Philip Vanjah, appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Court No. 2 on Tuesday, 11th March 2025, on a charge of embezzlement contrary to Section 17(1)(b) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the charge, between January and April 2024, at No. 17 Saika Stevens Street, Freetown, Vanjah allegedly embezzled a total of Le1,205,275 (One Million, Two Hundred and Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy-Five Leones). The money was reportedly received by Vanjah on behalf of Fundex Foreign Exchange Bureau Sierra Leone Limited.
When the charge was read in court, the accused did not take a plea.
The prosecution, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Joan M. S. Bull, called its fifth witness, John Suluku, a banker at Bloom Bank Africa Sierra Leone Limited*. Suluku testified that he recognized the accused as an employee of Fundex Foreign Exchange Bureau, and also as a customer of Bloom Bank.
He informed the court that Fundex had an active account with the bank, which was opened in August 2023, and had an existing overdraft facility. Suluku presented the original bank statement for Fundex Foreign Exchange Bureau, which included the signatures of two authorized signatories labeled “Signatory A” and “Signatory B.”
The bank statement was tendered in court and admitted into evidence as Exhibit F1–28.
Following Suluku’s testimony, the prosecutor informed the court that the prosecution had closed its case, and the file was withdrawn for ruling.
Magistrate Bangura subsequently adjourned the matter to 26th May 2025 for further proceedings.