Ernest Ohue Chief Internal Auditor has on Wednesday 22nd May 2024 testified against two Bloom Bank staff for an alleged fraud before the principal Magistrate Sahr  Kekura of the Pademba Road Court No.1 in Freetown.

Both accused were before the court on 10 counts of Larceny by Servant Contrary to Section 17 (1) (a) of the Larceny Act 1916; 12 Courts of Causing Money to be paid by False Pretenses Contrary to Section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916, 1 count of Forgery of documents as contrary to Section 4 (1) of the Forgery Act 1913. For 1 Count held for uttering of forged documents contrary to Section 6 (1) (2) of the Forgery Act 1913 and one count of conspiracy to defraud contrary to law.

The indictment states that both accused between January 2nd, and August 31st 2023.

Human Resource Officer at Bloom Bank Sierra Leone Limited Musa Joseph Sesay and a Student of College of Excellent and Digital on diverse dates between Monday 2 January 2023 and 31 August 2023, at Bloom Bank Sierra Leone Limited at No.3 Rawdon Street, Freetown, with intent to defraud, conspired together with other persons unknown and defrauded Bloom Bank Sierra Leone Limited the sum of NLe 619,000.

On count 2 to 11, Joseph Sesay was accused of stealing EDSA bill meant for payments.

Count 12-22 states that the second Joshua Gbanyah on diverse dates between October and November 2023, with intent to defraud unlawfully caused money to be paid by Bloom Bank Sierra Leone Limited as EDSA bill of six hundred and nineteen thousand new Leones to Tamba Pessima whom he presented to the said bank as EDSA agent which is known to be false.

On count 23, the second accused Joshua Gbanyah on diverse dates between Monday 2nd October and Thursday 30 November 2023 in Freetown, with the intent to defraud, forged certain documents to with one College of Digital Excellent statement of result bearing the name Joshua Gbanyah dated 16th October 2023, with ID number 19364 purported to have been prepared and singed by the office of the Registrar C.O.D.E which is known to be false.

Count 24 states that the second Joshua Gbanyah on the same date at Bloom Bank Sierra Leone Limited, Freetown, with intent to defraud, uttered certain forged documents with one College of Digital Excellent statement of result bearing the name Joshua Gbanyah dated 16th October 2023, with ID number 19364 purported to have been prepared and singed by the Office of the Registrar C.O.D.E which is known to be false.

Prosecution witness Ernest Ohue  the Chief Internal Auditor at the said bank stated that some of his duties are to provide independent assurance to the board and the executives, Management on the bank risk management cooperate governance, internal control and procedures including investigation he said.

He said he recognized both accused as a staff of the said bank and recalled on the said date the witness said the first accused was the Admin and Human Resource Manager at the bank while the second accused was in the Admin department and dispatch officers and to raise expenses and other administrative duties.

The witness continued that the first accused raised a total of seventeen expenses vouchers amounting to two hundred and twenty four thousand new Leones to purchase EDSA credit and he further said the credit was never purchased until EDSA officials visit the bank on December 6th 2023 to retrieve the meter as those vouchers were not purchased.

He further stated that EDSA officials took the meter to their office and on the 7th December 2023 he went to the office accompanied by other staff to EDSA to enquire why the meter was retrieved from the bank.

At this juncture the prosecutor asked for a short date for her to have proper conference with the witness.

Former Ombudsman Leon Jenkins Johnston and Lawyer Charles Pujeh are defending the accused.

Leon Jenkins Johnston applied for bail but objected by the Inspector Mabel Tarawally.

Magistrate Kekura denied bail stating the seriousness of the matter.

Meanwhile, the accused were remanded in custody until Wednesday 23rd May 2024.