By: Audrey Raymonda John
Cross-examination intensified in the Le 2.1 million Q-Cell fraud case as a Zenith Bank operations manager, Chidimona Nebolisa of Brima Town, Bo City, faced rigorous questioning before the court, while the two accused bankers stood in the dock.
Nebolisa, an internal control officer whose primary responsibility is to scrutinize all cash-related transactions, testified before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown. Under cross-examination, however, she admitted to critical gaps in the bank’s oversight regarding the alleged fraudulent transaction.
When asked whether she maintained formal written financial controls within the banking system, the witness responded, “Yes.” She further confirmed that, as operations manager, reconciliation reports were submitted to her office.
However, when pressed on whether she personally witnessed the alleged transaction involving the missing funds, Nebolisa replied, “No.” She also admitted that she was not part of the investigation team assigned to probe the incident.
Her testimony has raised questions about the prosecution’s case against Hassan Fornah (35) and Mohamed Tharm (36), both bankers accused of siphoning funds from telecom company Q-Cell.
According to the charge sheet, between January 20 and March 17, 2025, at Zenith Bank’s Bo Branch, the accused allegedly conspired to defraud the bank of Le 2,155,898.00. The money was reportedly handed over by Q-Cell staff for deposit into the company’s account (No. 6010306485) but was never credited.
The two men face three consolidated charges: conspiracy to defraud, fraudulent conversion, and fraudulent embezzlement, contrary to the Larceny Act 1916.
When the matter was called, both defendants were present in court after previously being issued a bench warrant. The prosecution is being led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Dialla Wellington.
Magistrate Fornah remanded the accused following the conclusion of cross-examination. The case has been adjourned to March 3, 2026, for further hearing.