By: Audrey Raymonda John
Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of two banking officials who failed to appear in court to answer to fraud-related charges.
The accused, 35-year-old Hassan Fornah and 36-year-old Mohamed Tharm, both bankers, were absent when the matter was called in court. Consequently, the Magistrate granted the prosecution’s application for a bench warrant against the defendants and their sureties.
The two men are facing three counts including conspiracy to defraud, contrary to law; fraudulent conversion, contrary to Section 20 (1)(iv)(a) of the Larceny Act 1916; fraudulent embezzlement, contrary to Section 17 (1)(b) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences occurred on diverse dates between 20 January and 17 March 2025 at Zenith Bank Sierra Leone Limited, Bo Branch, in Bo City, Kakua Chiefdom, Southern Province.
The prosecution alleges that the accused, with intent to defraud, conspired with other persons unknown and defrauded the bank of the sum of Two Million One Hundred and Fifty-Five Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety-Eight Leones (Le2,155,898.00).
Count Two states that the defendants fraudulently converted the said amount to their own use or benefit. The money had allegedly been entrusted to them by staff of Q-Cell (SL) Limited for the purpose of depositing it into Q-Cell’s account (No. 6010306485) at the bank.
Count Three further alleges that the defendants fraudulently embezzled the same amount, which had been entrusted to them for deposit into the specified account.
When the matter was mentioned in court, both accused persons were absent. The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police Dialla Wellington, applied for a bench warrant against the defendants and their sureties.
Magistrate Fornah granted the application and adjourned the matter to 20 February 2026 for further proceedings.