Financial Control Officer remanded
July 9, 2015 By Hawa Amara
Financial Control Officer at the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Ansumana Juma Kpange, was yesterday remanded at the Male Correctional Center on Pademba Road for allegedly stealing the sum of three hundred and twenty-six million, three hundred and ninety-three thousand, thirty-two Leones and seventy cents (Le326,393,32,70.00) from the profit and loss account of the bank.
The accused was arraigned at the Freetown Magistrates’ Court No.1 presided over by Magistrate Komba Kamanda on seventy-nine (72) counts of conspiracy to defraud contrary to law, larceny by servant, transferring proceeds of unlawful activities, and concealing of unlawful activities contrary to Section 5(1)(a)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Financial Terrorism Act of 2012.
According to police prosecutor Sergeant 922 Dumbuya John, the accused on a date between 1st May, 2014 and Wednesday 31st December, 2014 in Freetown, with intent to defraud, stole the said sum from the profit and loss account of UBA.
The prosecution further alleged that the accused on 1st April, 2014 to Saturday 30th May, 2015, at the UBA headquarters on Charlotte Street in Freetown, transferred proceeds of crime in the sum of thirty-one million, one hundred and one thousand, eight hundred and ninety-seven Leones and four cents from the bank’s profit and loss account No. 680043234, in the name of Laureh Yeama Barley.
Defence counsel H.M. Gavao applied for bail on behalf of his client on the ground that the accused has responsible sureties to stand on his behalf.
He stated that the accused person is a senior member of the bank and he is gainfully employed, and that he will not pose any flight risk if granted bail.
However, police prosecutor Sergeant 922 Dumbuya objected to bail, arguing that the offence for which the accused person has been charged with “is a very serious one”.
He said the quantum of money involved was huge and that if granted bail the accused might pose a flight risk and will interfere with prosecution witness(s).
Magistrate Kamanda ruled against the defence and remanded the accused until the next adjourned date on 14 July when the prosecution is expected to open its case.