Bloom Bank Officers Face Court Over Alleged Fraud and Forgery Charges

Human Resources Officer Musa Joseph Sesay of Bloom Bank Sierra Leone Limited, along with student Joshua Gbanyah, appeared before Principal Magistrate Shar Kekura at the Freetown Magistrate Court No. 1 on Monday, May 5, 2025. They are facing forty-two charges, including conspiracy, larceny by servant, obtaining money by false pretenses, and document forgery, in violation of the laws of Sierra Leone.

The indictment claims that between January 2, 2023, and March 31, 2024, Mr. Sesay, in his role as Human Resources Officer at Bloom Bank on Rawdon Street, Freetown, misappropriated funds intended for payments to the Electricity, Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA).

Mr. Gbanyah is accused of facilitating a fraudulent scheme involving the alleged payment of NLe 619,000 to an individual falsely identified as an EDSA agent. Additionally, it is alleged that Mr. Gbanyah forged documents from the College of Digital Excellence (CODE), including a falsified statement of results. Both individuals have been released on bail.

Chief Internal Auditor Ernest Ohue of Bloom Bank Africa testified that an EDSA meter was disconnected and removed on December 6, 2023, due to unpaid electricity credit. An investigation revealed that electronic vouchers for NLe 619,000, presented as proof of payment, were deemed false by EDSA. The matter has been adjourned to May 16, 2025, for further testimony.