By Fatima Kpaka
Three staff of Guarantee Trust Bank, and a driver Lamin Kamara are being investigated at Magistrate Court No.1 at Pademba Road for allegedly stealing money to the tune of Le 280,000,000 at the Bank.
Habib Kargbo, Yusuf Daramy, John Kanu, the staff of GT Bank were charged for the crimes of Conspiracy to Defraud and Larceny by Servant contrary to section 17 (1) (a) of the Larceny Act 1916.
They appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura on Friday, who presides at the court, on 2nd February 2024.
The prosecution is claiming that the accused persons on Tuesday 2nd January 2024 at Lunsar Town, Port Loko District, in northern Sierra Leone conspired with other persons to willfully swindled, Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) Sierra Leone Limited the sum of Le 280,000,000 (Old Le).
The police in the second count are also claiming that the said accused persons carried out their plan and stole the sum from Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) Sierra Leone Limited.
After both charges had been read against the accused persons they pleaded not guilty.
Defense Counsel representing the accused persons, E. Conteh then applied for bail on behalf of the accused persons pursuant to section 79 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act No.32 of 1965.
Magistrate Kekura, however admitted the accused persons bail in the sum NLe 5,000 with one surety each in like sum, noting that the sureties must be resident within the Western Area and that they should produce a valid identity card depicting their addresses in Freetown. The bail will be approved by the Deputy Assistant Registrar.
The Matter was adjourned to the 13th of February 2024 for further hearing.
Assistant Superintendent of Police, Ibrahim S. Mansaray is prosecuting the matter.