By: Audrey Raymonda John
A 30-year-old banker, Tamba Mani, has made his first appearance before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah at the Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown, where he was charged on four counts relating to alleged financial crimes at Sky Bank Sierra Leone Limited.
The charges include conspiracy to defraud contrary to law, larceny by servant contrary to Section 17(1)(a) of the Larceny Act of 1916, fraudulent embezzlement contrary to Section 17(1)(b) of the Larceny Act of 1916, and money laundering contrary to Section 25(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Financing of Terrorism and Financing the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act, 2024 (Act No. 4 of 2024).
According to the particulars of the offence, on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at the Sky Bank Makeni Branch in Bombali Shebora Chiefdom, Republic of Sierra Leone, the accused allegedly conspired with other persons unknown to defraud Sky Bank Sierra Leone Limited.
The prosecution further alleged that on the same date and at the same location, the accused, while serving as Branch Service Manager (BSM) at the Sky Bank Makeni Branch, stole the sum of two million, three hundred and eighty-five thousand Leones (SLE 2,385,000) from the bank.
In a third count, it is alleged that the accused fraudulently embezzled the same amount while acting in his official capacity as Branch Service Manager. The fourth count stated that he illicitly converted the said sum, an act constituting money laundering under the relevant legislation.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused, no plea was taken. The prosecutor, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Tommy B. Ziza Esq., served the accused with all relevant court documents.
Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah refused bail and ordered that the accused be remanded at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown. The matter has been adjourned to February 5, 2026, for further hearing.