Fraud at Bloom Bank
By: Bonnke Fofanah
One Abdulai Barrie, Mohamed Lamin Bah and Ibrahim Sow have been charged for allegedly defrauding the Bloom Bank Sierra Leone, the sum of one million eight hundred and eighty-one thousand, one hundred and fifty three new Leones and ninety-five cent.
The Defense Counsel representing Abdulai Barrie A.S Bah mentioned the matter and told the Court that, it is the fourth time they are appearing in Court and no progress has been made.
In that circumstance, the defense counsel renewed his bail application and Magistrate Sahr Kekura granted the accused bail in the sum of two thousand Leones plus 2 sureties in like sum, and both sureties must be employed in a recognized institution and one of the sureties must have a title deed.
The accused persons were charged on three count charges to wit Conspiracy to Defraud Contrary to law, and on count two Larceny by Servant Contrary to Section 17 (1) (a) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of offence, on diverse dates between Wednesday 13th to 19th November 2023, at the Bloom Bank Sierra Leone Limited, No. 3 Rawdon Street, in the Western Area in Freetown, with intent to defraud, conspired together with Mohamed Lamin Bah, Ibrahim Sow and other persons unknown and defrauded Bloom Bank Sierra Leone Limited the sum of one million eight hundred and eighty one thousand, one hundred and fifty three new Leones and ninety-five cent (Nle 1,881,153.95).
On count two, the accused person, on diverse dates between Thursday 2nd to 9th November 2023 at the Bloom Bank Sierra Leone Limited, No. 3 Rawdon Street, the Western Area of Freetown in the Judicial District, being the Chief Executive Officer of the Transnational Business (TNB) Sierra, Leone Limited, a contracted sub-agent for financial remittance on behalf of Bloom Bank S.L. Limited, stole the sum of eight hundred and eighty-one thousand, one hundred and fifty three new Leones and ninety-five cent (Nle 881,153.95), properties of Bloom Bank Sierra Leone Limited.
On count three the accused person on diverse dates between 2nd to 13th November, 2023 at the Bloom Bank, Sierra Leone Limited, No. 3 Rawdon Street, the Western Area in Freetown being the Chief Executive Officer of the Transnational Business (TNB) Sierra Leone, Limited, a contracted sub-agent for financial remittance on behalf of Bloom Bank S.L. Limited, stole the sum of one million new Leones (Nle 1,000.000/00), properties of Bloom Bank.
The Matter was adjourned to the 21st May 2024 for further hearing. ASP Ibrahim Mansaray is Prosecuting the matter.
