By Audrey Raymonda John
Philip Vanjah a businessman on Tuesday 9th December, 2024, was arraigned before magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No 2 on a count charge of embezzlement, contrary to section 17 (1) b of the larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of offence, that you on a date unknown between January and April, 2024 at No. 17 Saika Stevens Freetown, in western area of Sierra Leone, fraudulently embezzled the total sum of one million, two hundred and five thousand, two hundred and seventy five Leones (Le 1,205,275) received by you for and on account of Fundex Foreign Exchange Bureau Sierra Leone Limited.
When the charge was read and explained to the accused person no plea taken
Assistant Superintendent of police Juan M.S Bull led in Prosecution witness number two Alieu M Jalloh the Regional Manager for Fundex Foreign Exchange Sierra Leone Limited for Makeni.
He knew the accused person in the dock, stating that he was working for Fundex Foreign Exchange Sierra Leone Limited as Manager. The witness said he was working at the orange money platform of the establishment.
He added that the witness said he recalled what transpired between the accused and the complainant. The witness said sometimes in January to April 2024 the accused was ahead of the other transaction and he was ahead of the orange money and the were allocated by the complainant to different heads of the platform including himself and the accused person. In addition, the accused would sometimes ask him to permit the agent to pay with the money he distributed while he refunded it later. The accused never refunded the money upon that he went and explained the issue to the CEO PW1 the accused never refund the money upon that he made statement to the police station he conclude
The witness was cross examined by F. Bayoh Esq and he renewed his previous Bail applications on behalf of the accused person.
Meanwhile Magistrate Bangura refused bail and sent the accused to the male correctional facility in Freetown matter adjourned to the 18th December 2024.
