By Janet A. Sesay
Sylvanus Mustapha Bockarie Fatorma, a Staff at the Commerce and Mortgage Bank on Monday, 3rd March 2025, made another appearance before the Principal Magistrate of the Freetown Magistrate Court No.1, Magistrate Sahr Kekura for allegedly obtaining over Seventy-Eight Thousand New Leones from the accounts of different customers by fraudulent means.
The Accused, Fatorma is being arraigned on twenty-seven counts charges ranging from conspiracy to defraud, forgery, larceny by servant, and altering forged documents all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
According to the charge sheet, Fatorma on diverse dates between 2nd August 2022 and 5th September 2024 at the Commerce and Mortgage Bank at Liverpool Street in Freetown, with intent to defraud, conspired with other persons unknown and defrauded the bank the sum of Seventy-Eight Thousand, Five Hundred New Leones (NLe 78,500) from the bank account number 001111651016 monies taken from different accounts of customers at the bank.
Shortly after the matter was mentioned, the Police Prosecutor, ASP Ibrahim Mansaray sought for an adjournment that the witness is absent before the court.
Defense Counsel, M. Yassim renewed the bail application he earlier made before the court, but Prosecutor Mansaray objected to the bail on the ground that the accused will interfere with the witnesses.
Magistrate Kekura upheld the argument of the Prosecutor and therefore refused bail. The accused was therefore remanded until the adjourned date of 10th March, 2025, for further hearing.