By Fatima Kpaka
A cashier, Kumba Sesay, has been remanded at the Female Correctional Facility in Freetown for allegedly embezzling more than NLe 100 million from Ishmael Foreign Exchange Bureau. Sesay appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at the Pademba Road Court No. 2 on Monday, October 7, 2024, facing a charge of embezzlement.
The accused is charged with one count of embezzlement, contrary to Section 17(b) of the Larceny Act of 1916. According to the charge sheet, between July 12 and September 13, 2024, at Freetown Road, Lumley, Sesay fraudulently embezzled NLe 117,191, which she had received on behalf of Ishmael Foreign Exchange Bureau.
When the charge was read to the accused, no plea was taken.
The court’s first witness, Mohamed Alieu Bah, who was led in evidence by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh, testified that he is the supervisor at the Lumley branch of Ishmael Foreign Exchange Bureau. He confirmed that Sesay worked as a cashier under his supervision, responsible for handling daily transactions, paying customers, and managing the day-end balance to begin the next day’s business. Bah further alleged that the accused had been tampering with funds without the bureau’s knowledge, leading to the significant shortfall.
At this stage, the prosecutor requested an adjournment to allow for further consultations with the witness. Magistrate Bangura granted the request and adjourned the case to October 14, 2024, for further hearings. In the meantime, Sesay has been remanded in custody.