By: Audrey Raymonda John
Thirty-five-year-old banker Hassan Fornah and thirty-six-year-old banker Mohamed Tharm have been remanded at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown by Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2. The two face three counts: conspiracy to defraud contrary to law, fraudulent conversion contrary to Section 20(1)(iv)(a) of the Larceny Act 1916, and fraudulent embezzlement contrary to Section 17(1)(b) of the same Act.
According to the particulars of offence, between Monday 20th January and Monday 17th March 2025, at Zenith Bank Sierra Leone Limited, Bo Branch, in Kakua Chiefdom, Southern Province, the defendants conspired with persons unknown to defraud Zenith Bank of Le 2,155,898.00.
Count Two: The defendants allegedly fraudulently converted the same sum, entrusted to them by staff of Q-Cell (SL) Limited, intended for deposit into Q-Cell account number 6010306485. Count Three: They are further accused of fraudulently embezzling the funds entrusted for the same purpose.
When the charges were read and explained, no plea was taken.
Prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police Dialla Wellington, together with associating counsel Elvis Kargbo Esq., informed the court that their witness was absent.
Lead defence counsel F.A. Kamara notified the bench of his intention to cross-examine witnesses and applied for bail on behalf of both defendants. He argued that both are Sierra Leoneans residing within the jurisdiction with families. The second defendant is a lactating mother. They were previously granted police bail. They have reliable sureties willing to enter recognizance.
His application was made pursuant to Section 76(1)(c) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2024.
Magistrate Fornah refused bail, citing the seriousness of the offences and the risk of interference with prosecution witnesses. Both defendants were remanded to the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to 24th February 2026.