By Hassanatu I. Conteh
Prosecutor Mabel Tarawallie led in prosecution witness number one, Ernest Ohue, the Chief Internal Auditor at Bloom Bank Africa on Tuesday, 21st May 2024, who started testifying before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Court No.1 on Pademba Road, Freetown, against two staff employed by the bank.
According to his testimony, he stated that his duties are to provide independent assurance to the Board and Executive Management on the bank’s risk management, corporate governance, internal control and procedures, including investigation.
He continued that he recognised both the first accused, Joseph Musa Sesay and second accused, Joshua Gbanyah, as personnel of the Bloom Bank Africa.
He recalled that between the dates of Monday, 2nd January and 31st August 2023, the first accused person was the Admin at the Human Resource Department at Bloom Bank Africa, adding that from January to August 2023, he raised a total of 17 expense vouchers, amounting to NLe224,000 to purchase EDSA credit.
He added that the credit was never purchased until EDSA officials visited the bank on 6th December, 2023, to retrieve the meter which they took back to EDSA because the vouchers were not purchased.
On the 7th December 2023, he said he went to the EDSA office accompanied by other staff members to enquire why the meter was retrieved from the bank.
At this juncture, the prosecutor, Inspector Mabel Tarawally asked for a date to have a proper conference with the witness.
Both accused were in court on twenty-four (24) count charges for defrauding Bloom Bank of NLe619,000 and forging certain documents.
A bail application was made for and behalf of both accused persons. Magistrate Kekura refused bail due to the seriousness of the matter.
The matter was adjourned to 22nd May, 2024.