By Elizabeth Kamara
Guaranty Trust Bank, Patrick Adeyemi Egunnike, a Nigerian and two others were before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of the Pademba Road Court No.2 for allegedly falsifying the account of Ibrahim Bazzy and Sons Limited.
They were before the court on six count charges ranging from conspiracy to defraud, falsification of accounts, forgery, uttering forged document, failure to keep records of transactions to fraudulent conversion of property.
The bank and others were alleged to have on diverse days between 1st July 2015 to the 31st July 2017 in Freetown, with intent to defraud, conspired together with other persons unknown to defraud Ibrahim Bazzy and Sons Limited
The police further alleged on count two that the corporation and the accused persons on the same date and place, with intent to defraud, falsified the account of Ibrahim Bazzy and Sons Limited.
It was further alleged that on the same date and place, the accused persons with intent to defraud, forged certain document to wit the signature of Hussein Ibrahim Bazzy in an offer of banking facility dated 31st day of July 2017, purporting that it was signed by the said Hussein Ibrahim Bazzy, knowing same to be false.
It was also alleged on count four that on the same date and place the accused persons with intent to defraud uttered a forged an offer of banking facility dated the 31st July 2017.
The police also stated on count five that, Guaranty Trust Bank, with intent to defraud, failed to keep the application letters and acceptance letters in respect of loans given to Admiral Trading Limited and Ibrahim Bazzy and Sons Limited.
On the 20th July 2017 at the Guaranty Trust Bank #12 Wilberforce Street in Freetown, with intent to defraud, fraudulently converted to its own use or benefit, certain property -title deed of a realty received by it for and on account of Hussein Ibrahim Bazzy and Sons Limited in order that Guaranty Trust Bank retains the same in safe custody
Meanwhile, no plea was taken when the charges were read to the accused persons.
State prosecutor, Yusuf Isaac Sesay, told the Bench that the first accused being a corporation should have sent a representative in court. He applied for an order to ensure that Guaranty Trust Bank have a representative named in a statement sent to the court for the purpose of the appointee to stand for the corporation during the proceedings.
The lead counsel representing the accused persons, Roland Wright applied for bail on behalf of the third accused person, noting that he is the second in command at Access Bank whiles the fourth accused person holds a senior position at Guaranty Trust Bank.
Magistrate Bangura granted bail to the third and fourth accused persons in the sum of two hundred thousand Leones each in like sum.
He said the sureties must be residents in Freetown and must be gainfully employed and hold senior management positions in their respective employments.
He ordered that the bail should be approved by the Master and Registrar of the High Court of Sierra Leone.
He also ordered the first accused, Guaranty Trust Bank Sierra Leone Limited be represented in court.
