Sylvanus Fatorma Faces 28 Charges

By: Alimatu Kargbo

In a shocking financial scandal, Sylvanus Mustapha Bockarie Fatorma was arrested on January 22, 2025, by Detective Inspector A.S. Mansaray and is now facing 28 criminal charges linked to a massive fraud scheme at Commerce and Mortgage Bank (CMB).

The accused is facing the following allegations: 12 counts of forgery; 13 counts of altering forged documents;1 count of conspiracy to defraud and 1 count of larceny by a servant

According to court records, between August 2, 2022, and September 5, 2024, Fatorma, along with unidentified accomplices, allegedly orchestrated a scheme to siphon Seventy-eight Thousand Five Hundred Leones (78,500 NLe)—equivalent to Seventy-eight Million Five Hundred Thousand Old Leones from a bank account (0021111651016) under false pretenses.

The accused allegedly manipulated financial records, making it appear that the rightful account holder, Idrissa Bangura, had withdrawn the funds. However, the transaction was entirely fraudulent, resulting in significant financial losses for the bank.

Prosecutor Taylor Mansaray has vowed to pursue the full force of the law against the accused, as authorities suspect more individuals may be involved in the alleged fraud.

This high-profile case has sparked public outrage and drawn the attention of legal experts, who predict a landmark trial that could reshape how financial crimes are handled in Sierra Leone.

The matter was adjourned to March 10, 2025.