By: Alimatu Kargbo
The Principal Magistrate Court No. 1 in Freetown on Thursday, 3rd July 2025, continued proceedings in a case involving two former employees of Bloom Bank Africa accused of conspiracy and multiple counts of larceny and forgery. The accused Musa Joseph Sesay, former Human Resource and Administrative Officer, and Joshua Gbanyah, former Dispatch Rider later elevated to Administrative Officer are facing 41 counts ranging from conspiracy to defraud, larceny by servant, causing money to be paid by false pretences, to forgery and altering of forged documents.
According to the charge sheet, between January and December 2023, the accused allegedly defrauded Bloom Bank of over NLe 621,000, funds earmarked for electricity top-ups to the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA). The prosecution alleges that instead of making genuine payments, the accused tampered with the electricity meter and forged receipts, while also diverting EDSA funds for personal gain.
During cross-examination led by C. Pujeh prosecution witness Mr. Ohua, Chief Internal Auditor at Bloom Bank, told the court that although the accused submitted receipts and claimed payments were made, EDSA later confirmed the meter had been bypassed. He also stated that the bank’s internal processes for topping up electricity relied heavily on the accused persons, who were responsible for initiating expenditure vouchers approved by senior management.
Counsel for the second accused, C. Pujeh, questioned the credibility of the evidence, asking the witness whether she could confirm that light was available at the premises after the transactions. The witness admitted that electricity was available during the said period, but noted that EDSA only later discovered and reported the tampering on 6th December 2023. The court also heard that the second accused submitted forged College of Digital Excellence (CODE) documents to secure a more senior role within the bank. These were later found to be fake. Bail continues for both accused, and the matter was adjourned to 4th August 2025 for further hearing.
