By-Audrey Raymonda John
Customer Service Officer at Ecobank, Mustapha Koroma on Monday made his first appearance before Principal Magistrate Mark N’gegba of Pademba Road Court No.1 for embezzling customers’ monies of over Two Hundred Million old Leones (NLe250, 000).
The accused is charged on 53 counts of embezzlement contrary to Section 17 (1) (b) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
Count 1 particulars of offence states that, the accused Mustapha Koroma on Monday 7th February, 2022, at Ecobank Microfinance Outlet, Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown, fraudulently embezzled the sum of Two million Leones received by him from Hamzatu Isatu Fofanah, on account of Ecobank Microfinance Outlet.
Count 2 states that the accused between Wednesday 13th April, 2022, at Ecobank Microfinance Outlet, Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown, fraudulently embezzled the sum of Five million Leones received by him from Hamzatu Isatu Fofanah, on account of Ecobank Microfinance Outlet.
Count 3 states that the accused on Monday 9th May 2022, at Ecobank Microfinance Outlet, Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown, fraudulently embezzled the sum of two million Leones, received by him from Hamzatu Isatu Fofanah on account of Ecobank Microfinance Outlet.
Count 4 states that the accused on Tuesday 7th June, 2022, at Ecobank Microfinance Outlet, Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown, fraudulently embezzled the sum of thirteen million five hundred thousand Leones received by him from Hamzatu Isatu Fofanah on account of Ecobank Microfinance Outlet.
Count 5 states that the accused on Tuesday 14th June 2022, at Ecobank Microfinance Outlet, Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown, fraudulently embezzled the sum of three million Leones received by him from Hamzatu Isatu Fofanah, on account of Ecobank Microfinance Outlet.
Count 6 particulars of offence states that the accused Mustapha Koroma on Friday 8th July, 2022, at Ecobank Microfinance Outlet, Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown, fraudulently embezzled the sum of Two million five hundred thousand Leones received by him from Hamzatu Isatu Fofanah on account of Ecobank Microfinance Outlet.
Count 7 states that the accused on Sunday 17th July 2022, at Ecobank Microfinance Outlet, Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown, fraudulently embezzled the sum of Two million five hundred thousand Leones received by him from Hamzatu Isatu Fofanah on account of Ecobank Microfinance Outlet.
Count 8 states that the accused on Saturday 17th September, 2022, at Ecobank Microfinance Outlet, Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown, fraudulently embezzled the sum of Six million Leones received by him from Hamzatu Isatu Fofanah, on account of Ecobank Microfinance Outlet.
Count 9,10,11,12 and 53 state that the accused on different dates and months at Ecobank Microfinance Outlet, Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown, fraudulently embezzled the total amount of Two hundred and twenty five thousand one hundred and seventy Leones new notes received by him from different customers’ Mohamed Mansaray, Mabinty Koroma, Fuadnatu Designers Points, Foday Gibril Koroma, Ibrahim Sow, Salamatu Kamara, Sorie Samura, Foday Julius Turay, Mariama Koroma, Foday Gibril Koroma, Yabonet Sesay, Hawa Kamara, Albert Dambia, Neneba Umu Koroma, Andrew E.O Kamara, Ansumana Sallu, J.W and Son Pay Less Investment and Fatima Jalloh, on account of Ecobank Microfinance Outlet.
Assistant Superintendent of police Ibrahim S Mansaray led Prosecution witness number one Mohamed Bangura who is Head of Internal Audit Ecobank and his duty is to render advices and conduct internal investigations in the bank.
He said that he recognized the accused person as a former colleague staff attached to the Ecobank Regent Road, Lumley branch as customer service officer and he recalled on the 7th to 23rd February 2022.
PW1 said on the 1st March, 2023, the Head of Operations informed him that alleged fraud was reported at Lumley branch and after receiving the information he visited the branch at Lumley, but at that time, the accused person was on suspension. He said the service officer at the said bank told him that on the 27th March 2023 a customer came to withdraw money from her account but there was no money and upon that he communicated with the customer and she confirmed that there was no money inside her account. And at this juncture, the prosecution sought for a short adjournment date.
Counsel representing the accused, Solomon Turay applied for bail for and on behalf of the accused that he has reliable sureties who are willing and ready to go into recognizance on his behalf and that he will not interfere with prosecution witness or witnesses and will not jump bail. He said the accused is a primary career giver with a five years old child and he made his application pursuant to section 79 (2) of the Criminal procedure Act No.32 of 1965.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Mark N’gegba refused bail and sent the accused on remand to the Freetown Male Correctional Center.
The matter adjourned to 24th April, 2023