By Mohamed Foday Conteh
The trial of 5 accused persons implicated in several criminal charges that resulted in the missing of over 14 billion Leones at the First International Bank now Vista Bank commenced at the High Court in Freetown on the 16th August 2021.
The trial had initially started as a preliminary investigation with six accused persons at the Pademba Road Magistrate Court in Freetown. Magistrate Mark Ngegba had ruled that all accused persons except one Joseph Chibuze Peters had a case to answer at the High court.
Alfred Aiah Saquee Kamanda, Mohamed Mallam Kamara, George Yammah, Steven Okeke and John Emmanuel Eze were arraigned in court on 186 count charges ranging from conspiracy, conspiracy to defraud, larceny by a clerk, conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering, all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The first accused Kamanda, while being a clerk of the said bank was alleged to have stolen the total sum of over 400 million Leones between diverse dates ranging from 2013 to 2016 according to the particulars of offence.
The second accused, Kamara was also said to have stolen over 200 million Leones while also working as a clerk of the same bank. The court registrar also read in court that Kamara on the 12th June 2014 as clerk of the said bank stole the sum of over 142 million Leones.
All accused persons pleaded not guilty to all charges for which they were being arraigned .
After the charges were read for over two hours, Drucil E. Taylor applied for bail for all accused persons on behalf of his colleagues. He said that the trial started three years ago and that all accused persons had been complying with investigations. He added that two of the accused persons are foreign nationals who had submitted all travelling documents to the court. He also made specific reference to his client, the fifth accused, whom he said is a chartered account and earnestly depends on the end of the trial which could vindicate him.
The State prosecutor, Joseph A.K. Sesay did not oppose to bail for the accused persons. He however submitted in court that they could all be flight risk and that the court should consider that ambit in its ruling. He also added that the State will submit in an affidavit if there are subsequent opposition to bail in the future.
Justice Simeon Allieu granted a bail of 1 billion Leones and 1 surety in the Western Area each for all accused persons. He also ordered that all accused persons hand over all travelling documents to the court. The judge ended by adjourning the matter for the 24th August 2021.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (18/08/21)
