Kofi Adu Apenteng, Joseph Amadu Bangura, Almedette Olive, and Nurse Sento Momoh, all employees of Bloom Bank Africa, appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No.2 in Freetown on Tuesday, May 7th, 2023, facing accusations of embezzling over two hundred million New Leones from the aforementioned bank. The charges against them include conspiracy to defraud and causing money to be paid to another with intent to defraud.
It is alleged that between December 15th to 18th, 2023, at Bloom Bank Africa, Kissy Road branch in Freetown, the accused conspired to defraud Bloom Bank Africa Sierra Leone Limited of four thousand United States Dollars, equivalent to ninety-four thousand Leones. Additionally, on December 15th, 2023, the accused unlawfully caused money to be paid to Sento Momoh by Bloom Bank Africa Sierra Leone Limited, amounting to one thousand United States Dollars, equivalent to twenty-three thousand five hundred Leones, as genuine withdrawals from Bloom Bank Account number 0034040309661, by the account holder, Enrico Walter, knowing the transactions were false.
On December 18th, 2023, at the same bank, the accused unlawfully caused money to be paid to Sento Momoh by Bloom Bank Africa Sierra Leone Limited, amounting to three thousand United States Dollars, equivalent to seventy thousand five hundred Leones, as a genuine withdrawal made from Bloom Bank Account number 0034040309661 by the account holder Enrico Walter, again knowing the transaction was false.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Lead Defence Counsel, T.M. Conteh, informed the Court that they are in negotiations with the bank to ensure that their clients’ actions comply with the bank’s expectations and that they will start paying half of the owed amount immediately, with the balance to be paid on the next adjourned date. The exact amount to be paid was not disclosed but will be communicated to the Court later.
Magistrate Bangura adjourned the matter to May 14th, 2024.
