By: Audrey Raymonda John
The Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown has issued a bench warrant against Tamba Mani, a 30-year-old banker and Branch Service Manager at Sky Bank Makeni Branch, after he failed to appear in court on Friday, 30 January 2026.
The warrant was issued by Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah in relation to four counts: conspiracy to defraud contrary to law; larceny by servant contrary to Section 17(1)(a) of the Larceny Act, 1916; fraudulent embezzlement contrary to Section 17(1)(b) of the Larceny Act, 1916; and money laundering contrary to Section 25(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Financing of Terrorism and Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act, 2024 (Act No. 4 of 2024).
According to the particulars of offence, on Thursday, 14 August 2025, at the Sky Bank Makeni Branch in Bombali Shebora Chiefdom, Republic of Sierra Leone, the accused allegedly conspired with other persons unknown, with intent to defraud Sky Bank Sierra Leone Limited.
The second count alleges that on the same date and place, the accused, while serving as Branch Service Manager (BSM), stole the sum of Two Million Three Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand Leones (Le 2,385,000) from Sky Bank Sierra Leone Limited.
The third count further alleges that the accused fraudulently embezzled the same amount Le 2,385,000 from the bank while acting in his official capacity.
The fourth count states that the accused illicitly converted the said sum of Le 2,385,000, contrary to the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
When the matter was mentioned in court, the accused was absent. Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Tommy B. Ziza Esq., appearing in prosecution, applied for the issuance of a bench warrant against the absent accused and his sureties.
Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah granted the application and issued a bench warrant against both the accused and his sureties.
The matter was adjourned to 2 February 2026.