By Yusufu S. Bangura
The Bank Manager for LAPO Micro Finance, Makeni branch, Francess Lawson, was last Friday sent to the Female Correctional Centre at Jomo Kenyatta Road in Freetown by Magistrate Sahr Kekura of the Pademba Road Court No.1 for defrauding the institution over one hundred million Leones.
The accused is charged to court on four counts ranging from conspiracy to defraud, embezzlement, forgery of document to uttering forged document contrary to Section 6 (1) (2) of Forgery Act of 1913.
Police prosecutor, ASP Ibrahim S. Mansaray alleged that the accused on a dates between Saturday 1st April and Thursday 31 August 2023, in Makeni, Bombali District, with intent to defraud, conspired with other persons unknown and defrauded the said bank the sum of one hundred and four thousand, four hundred and sixteen new Leones (Nle104,416/00), property of the LAPO Micro Finance Sierra Leone Limited.
It was further alleged that the accused on the same date and place fraudulently embezzled the said amount received by her for the account of Alpha Amadu Jalloh.
Furthermore, the accused on the same date and place, with intent to defraud, forged certain document, to wit one LAPO Micro Finance Sierra Leone Limited Loan application form dated 1 December 2021, purporting that it was prepared and signed by Aminata Jalloh.
Also,the accused on the same date and place with intent to defraud, uttered one LAPO Micro Finance Sierra Leone Limited application form dated 1 December 2021, knowing same to have been forged.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused person, she pleaded not guilty.
After taken her plead, ASP Ibrahim Mansaray told the Bench that his witnesses were absent and asked for short date for him to inform his witnesses.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Kekura upheld his application and ordered the prison officers to take the accused to remand and adjourned the matter to Thursday 15th Feberuary 2024.
