By: Audrey Raymonda John
Lamin Tarawalie, a 39-year-old Senior Accountant at the West Africa Operations and Management Company (WAOMC), appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown to face six charges, including conspiracy to defraud, forgery, uttering forged documents, and larceny by servant.
The charges allege that between Friday, November 1, 2024, and Monday, November 4, 2024, at the Hastings Toll Gate in the Western Area of Freetown, Tarawalie conspired with unknown persons to defraud WAOMC.
According to the prosecution, on November 2, 2024, the accused forged a Standard Chartered Bank cash deposit slip with a value of Le142,789, purporting it to have been prepared and signed by Ibrahim K. Gbundema, a Junior Accountant at WAOMC.
Further allegations claim that on November 4, 2024, the accused forged another deposit slip valued at Le283,100, this time purporting it to have been prepared and signed by Alhaji S. Mansaray, also a Junior Accountant at WAOMC.
The charges include two counts of uttering forged documents, alleging that the accused knowingly presented the fraudulent deposit slips to the company. Additionally, the prosecution alleges that Tarawalie, as a Senior Accountant, stole a total of Le364,102, the property of WAOMC.
No plea was taken during the proceedings.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Aminatu Daboh, prosecuting, requested a short adjournment to summon witnesses. The accused was represented in court by defense lawyer C. Kamara.
Magistrate Kekura denied bail and remanded Tarawalie to the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to January 20, 2025.