By Fatima Kpaka
Freetown, Sierra Leone – Musa Joseph Sesay, the Human Resource Officer at Bloom Bank Sierra Leone Limited, and Joshua Gbanyah, a student at the College of Digital Excellence (CODE), faced Magistrate Shar Kekura of Pademba Road Court No.1 on Wednesday, 19 March 2025. The two are accused of embezzling six hundred and nineteen thousand new Leones (NLe 619,000) from the bank.
The accused individuals face 42 charges, including conspiracy, larceny by servant, causing money to be paid by false pretenses, and forgery, all in violation of Sierra Leone’s laws.
Details of the Allegations
The indictment claims that Sesay, during his tenure as HR Officer at Bloom Bank from January 2, 2023, to March 31, 2024, misappropriated funds intended for the payment of electricity bills to the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) on multiple occasions.
Meanwhile, Gbanyah is accused of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme, which involved facilitating the payment of six hundred and nineteen thousand Leones (NLe 619,000) to Tamba Pessima. It is alleged that Gbanyah falsely presented Pessima as an EDSA agent to Bloom Bank. In addition, Gbanyah is said to have forged documents from the College of Digital Excellence (CODE), including a falsified statement of results and ID bearing his name, purportedly prepared and signed by CODE’s Registrar.
Court Proceedings
Initially, the accused were arraigned on 24 charges; however, Prosecutor ASP Ibrahim Mansaray requested an adjournment at a previous hearing to amend the charge sheet, which was granted by Magistrate Kekura. The defense counsel, Charles Pujeh, objected, arguing that the charges had increased to 42 counts. Magistrate Kekura clarified that the amendment pertained to changes in the dates on the charge sheet rather than the addition of new charges.
During the latest hearing, Prosecutor Mansaray sought another adjournment to obtain further clarification from the bank. The Magistrate granted the adjournment, and the case has been rescheduled for 28 March 2025. Both accused remain on bail.
This case underscores the significance of addressing alleged financial misconduct within institutions and ensuring accountability in Sierra Leone’s financial sector.