By: Audrey John
29yrs old Patrick Abubakarr Moore a Banker made his first appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba road court No.1 in Freetown on six count charges ranging from Larceny by servant contrary to section 17 (1) (a) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of offence on diverse dates between 23rd March 2018 and 21st March 2022 at the united Bank of Africa (UBA) the western area in Freetown being a servant employed as Acting head of domestic operations by the United Bank of Africa main branch at No.9 Charlotte Street in Freetown Stole the sum of two hundred and sixty two million, forty two thousand, one hundred and sixty seven Leones, twelve cents(262,042,162.12) which you posted into savings account No.540620520003171 and later using the bank mobile app platform transfer same to your wallet, property of the said bank.
Count two on a date between 1st June 2020 and 21st March 2022 at the said bank stole the sum of four hundred and fifty seven million, three and twenty eight thousand, one hundred and ninety four Leones fifteen cents(457,328,194.15) which he posted into the said account.
Count three on the 26th January 2022 and 24th March 2022 at the said office stole the sum of one hundred and twenty two million and fifty five thousand, nine hundred and fifty one Leones, Forty seven cents (122,055,951.47) posted into the said account.
Count four on a date between 1st June 2020 and 21st March 2022 stole the sum of twenty million one hundred and forty nine thousand and twenty seven Leones, Fort two cents (20,149,277.42) posted into the said account, while as on count five on diverse date between 28th January 2022 and 24th March 2022 stole the sum of twenty nine million three hundred and sixteen thousand, six hundred and fifty two Leones (29,316,652.00) posted into the said account.
On count six on diverse dates between 18th June 2021 and 23rd March 2022 stole the sum of two hundred and thirty four million, one hundred and seventy seven thousand, one hundred and sixteen Leones and three cents (234,177,166.03) posted into the said account.
First Prosecution witness (PW1) Okuben Adeebowale a Banker at United Bank of Africa (UBA) said he is the head of Internal Audit and recognized the accused person as a staff of UBA, and was the acting head domestic operations.
PW1 said he recalled on the 29th June 2020 to 21st March 2022 at that time the accused person worked as a processor during that period on the 25th March 2022 the Chief Operation Officer brought a report to him a case of Fraudulent transaction by the accused person.
PW1 said after that he conducted internal investigation and checked the personal account of the accused person and it was produce and tender in court and marked as exhibit A1-85.
Later, the witness said they look at the transaction process by the accused person and found out that the transaction posted as salary for customer was realized that the accused person has been Fraudulently inserting account that was not on the original files sent by the customers, he said they have Adama Kamara account of Adama Kamara was produce and tendered as exhibit B1-12, Agnes Koroma the account of Agnes Koroma was produce and tendered as exhibit C1-4, Bangura Alusine was also tender in court and marked as exhibit D1-14 Cecilia Brewah was also tender and marked as E1-4 and Josephine Sinah was marked as exhibit F1-3 he said the manipulated schedule of customers that are not banking with them was marked as exhibit G1-3 base on their analysis all this money was forwarded into the account of the accused person; at this stage the prosecution seek for a short adjournment date.
Counsel representing the accused person Charles I. Williams renewed his previous bail applications on behalf of the accused person.
Magistrate Kekura refused bail based on the seriousness of the allegation the matter was adjourned to the 3rd May, 2022.
