By: Audrey Raymonda John
Customer Service Officer at Eco bank Mustapha Koroma on Monday made his first appearance to Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Court No 1 Pademba Road, Freetown, for embezzling customers’ monies of over two hundred million Leones.
The accused is charged on 53 counts of embezzlement contrary to Section 17 (1) (b) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to count 1 particulars of offence, the accused Mustapha Koroma on Monday 7 February 2022, at Ecobank Microfinance Outlet, Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown, fraudulently embezzled the sum of two thousand Leones received by him from Hamzatu Isatu Fofanah, on account of Ecobank Microfinance Outlet.
Count 2 states that the accused between Wednesday 13 April 2022, at Ecobank Microfinance Outlet, Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown, fraudulently embezzled the sum of five thousand Leones received by him from Hamzatu Isatu Fofanah, on account of Ecobank Microfinance Outlet.
Count 3 states that the accused on Monday 9 May 2022, Ecobank Microfinance Outlet, Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown, fraudulently embezzled the sum of two thousand Leones, received by him from Hamzatu Isatu Fofanah on account of Ecobank Microfinance Outlet.
Count 4 state that the accused on Tuesday 7 June 2022, at Ecobank Microfinance Outlet, Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown, fraudulently embezzled the sum of thirteen thousand five hundred Leones received by him from Hamzatu Isatu Fofanah on account of Ecobank Microfinance Outlet.
Count 5 state that the accused on Tuesday 14 June 2022, at Ecobank Microfinance Outlet, Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown, fraudulently embezzled the sum of three thousand Leones received by him from Hamzatu Isatu Fofanah, on account of Ecobank Microfinance Outlet.
Count 6 particulars state that the accused Mustapha Koroma on Friday 8 July 2022, at Ecobank Microfinance Outlet, Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown, fraudulently embezzled the sum of two thousand five hundred Leones received by him from Hamzatu Isatu Fofanah on account of Ecobank Microfinance Outlet.
Count 7 states that the accused on Sunday 17 July 2022, at Ecobank Microfinance Outlet, Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown, fraudulently embezzled the sum of two thousand five hundred Leones received by him from Hamzatu Isatu Fofanah on account of Ecobank Microfinance Outlet.
Count 8 states that the accused on Saturday 17 September 2022, at Ecobank Microfinance Outlet, Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown fraudulently embezzled the sum of six thousand Leones received by him from Hamzatu Isatu Fofanah, on account of Ecobank Microfinance Outlet.
Count 9,10,11,12 and 53 the accused on different dates and months at Ecobank Microfinance Outlet, Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown, fraudulently embezzled the total value of two hundred and twenty-five thousand one hundred and seventy Leones new notes received by him from different customers Mohamed Mansaray, Mabinty Koroma, Fuadnatu Designers Points, Foday Gibril Koroma, Ibrahim Sow, Salamatu Kamara, Sorie Samura, Foday Julius Turay, Mariama Koroma, Foday Gibril Koroma, Yabonet Sesay, Hawa Kamara, Albert Dambia, Neneba Umu Koroma, Andrew E.O Kamara, Ansumana Sallu, J.W and Son Pay Less Investment and Fatima Jalloh, on account of Ecobank Microfinance Outlet.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Ibrahim S Mansaray led Prosecution witness number one Mohamed Bangura head of internal audit Ecobank.
He rendered advice and conducted internal investigations in the bank he recognized the accused person as a former colleague staff attached at Regent Road Lumley as a customer service officer.
He recalled on 7th to 23rd February 2022 on the 1st March 2023 the head of operations informed him that alleged fraud has reported at the Lumley branch after the information.
He visited the branch at Lumley at that time the accused person was on suspension the service officer at the said bank told him that on the 27th of March 2023, a customer came to withdraw money from her account but there was no money and he communicated with the customer.
She confirmed that there was no money inside her account, at this juncture the prosecution seeks a short adjournment date.
Counsel representing the accused person Solomon Turay applied for bail for and on behalf of the accused person that he has reliable sureties who are willing and ready to go into recognizance on his behalf.
He will not interfere with prosecution witnesses or witnesses he will not jump bail he said the accused person is a primary caregiver with a five-year-old child.
He made his application pursuant to section 79 2 of the Criminal Procedure Act No.32 of 1965.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Ngegba refused bail and sent the accused person to the male correctional centre in Freetown matter was adjourned to the 24th of April 2023.