By: Audrey Raymonda John
An ongoing high-profile fraud case involving six accused persons Yusif Turay (businessman), Ibrahim Thullah (agent), Ishmael Nat Thomas (businessman), Hassan Gibrill Kargbo (businessman), Alhaji Santigie Sesay (businessman), and Sheriff Osman Sankoh was heard before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. They face three charges including conspiracy to defraud and larceny by servant under Section 17(1)(a) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the charge particulars, between March 24 and 25, 2025, at various Access Bank Sierra Leone Limited branches in Freetown’s Western Area, the accused conspired to defraud Orange Mobile Finance Limited of a total sum of 19,878,360 Leones.
The second and third counts allege that the accused, acting as agents operating Orange Mobile Money services, unlawfully withdrew this amount from an Orange Money wallet bank account (Account No. 0010160000326) through unauthorized transactions at Access Bank branches, including one at Rotifunk Lungi in the Kaffu Bullom Chiefdom, Port Loko District, North West Region.
When the charges were read and explained, no plea was taken from the accused.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Dialla Wellington led the prosecution witness, David Solomon Musa, Head of Orange Money Operations in Freetown, responsible for product development and project management. Musa identified the first accused and recounted events between March 24 and 25.
He explained that on March 25, 2025, he received a call from Alhaji Thorley, Head of Finance, reporting a discrepancy money supposedly deposited in their Access Bank account on March 24 was missing. Upon arriving at their office, Musa and Thorley confirmed the absence of funds.
They proceeded to Access Bank headquarters before opening hours to meet with the account manager and head of IT, handing over a list of agent numbers that had withdrawn money from the account without authorization on March 24 and 25.
The IT manager informed Musa of ongoing transactions at the Access Bank Congo Cross branch, where they confronted the first accused, who admitted to continuing a prior unauthorized transaction. Musa stated that the accused later gave a statement to police at the CID Economic Crime Division.
Defense counsel S.L. Lewis requested to defer cross-examination to a later date.
The case has been adjourned to June 24, 2025, with bail conditions continuing.