By: Alimatu Kargbo
Two bankers attached to Zenith Bank Sierra Leone Limited have been remanded at the Freetown Male Correctional Centre following their first court appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 over an alleged fraud involving Q-Cell (SL) Limited.
The accused, thirty-five-year-old Hassan Fornah and thirty-six-year-old Mohamed Tharm, are facing three counts: conspiracy to defraud contrary to law; fraudulent conversion contrary to Section 20(1)(iv)(a) of the Larceny Act 1916; and fraudulent embezzlement contrary to Section 17(1)(b) of the same Act.
According to the particulars of offence, on diverse dates between Monday 20 January and 17 March 2025 at Zenith Bank’s Bo Branch in Bo City, Kakua Chiefdom, Southern Province, the defendants allegedly conspired with persons unknown with intent to defraud and obtained the sum of Le2,155,898.00.
The prosecution further alleged that during the same period the accused fraudulently converted to their personal use the sum of Le2,155,898.00 which had been entrusted to them by staff of Q-Cell (SL) Limited for deposit into Q-Cell account number 6010306485 at Zenith Bank.
It was also alleged that the two defendants fraudulently embezzled the same amount entrusted to them by Q-Cell staff for deposit into the said account.
When the charges were read and explained in court, no plea was taken.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Dialla Wellington led prosecution witness number five, Inspector Alimamy Kamara, attached to the Financial Fraud and Forensic Unit (FFFU) at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Pademba Road, Freetown.
The witness told the court that he recognized both defendants and recalled that on 18th May 2025, while on duty at the CID headquarters, a case and inquiry file involving the accused was handed over to him from the Regional Crime Officer’s Office in Bo for further investigation.
He said after registering the file, he obtained an additional statement from the complainant, Mary Davies, on 19th May 2025. On the same date, he and DPC 17712 Lahun M. obtained a voluntary caution statement from the second defendant in Krio, which was recorded in English. The statement was read over and explained to the defendant, who admitted it to be true and correct by affixing his right-hand thumbprint. The statement was witnessed by DPC Lahun M, while Inspector Kamara signed as the recorder. The statement was produced and tendered in court as part of the prosecution’s exhibits.
The witness further testified that on 20th May 2025 he, together with Inspector S.K. Mansaray and DPC Lahun M, obtained a voluntary caution statement from the first defendant using the same procedure.
Inspector Kamara also told the court that on 9th February 2026, he and other investigators obtained charge statements from both defendants regarding the offences for which they are standing trial.
During the investigation, he said, several correspondences took place between the police, the Financial Intelligence Agency, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Those documents, now in police custody, were produced and tendered in court as exhibits. He added that he also prepared a progress report to assist the DPP and other authorities, which was likewise tendered in court.
The witness further revealed that he received several documents from investigators in Bo, including Zenith Bank deposit slips allegedly found in the bag of the first defendant. He also received a Zenith Bank cheque dated 22th March 2024 bearing the name of the second defendant with serial number 1710011, which has been kept in police custody and was tendered in court.
According to the witness, investigators from Bo also handed over additional papers and slips from Zenith Bank containing figures they alleged represent monies owed by the defendants. However, he told the court that those documents are currently under the custody of the exhibit officer and he could not testify further on them due to their sensitive nature.
The witness was cross-examined by defence counsel L.B. Koroma Esq and E.M. Kargbo Esq representing the defendants.
Meanwhile, Magistrate John Manso Fornah refused bail and ordered that both accused be remanded at the Freetown Male Correctional Centre. The matter was adjourned to 18th March 2026.
