Orange Mobile Money employees testified in court about the theft of nearly 20 million Leones

At the Pademba Road Court, a notable legal proceeding took place as employees of Orange Mobile Money provided testimony against their colleagues, accused of misappropriating nearly NLE 20 million Leones from Access Bank. This case underscores potential weaknesses in internal security protocols and financial control mechanisms.

Six individuals associated with Orange Mobile Money appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at the Pademba Road Court, facing serious charges of conspiracy to defraud and larceny. The defendants—Yusif Turay, Ibrahim Thullah, Ishmael Nat Thomas, Hassan Gibrill Kargbo, Alhaji Santigie Sesay, and Sheriff Osman Sankoh—are allegedly responsible for the illicit withdrawal of NLE 19,878,360 Leones from Access Bank between March 24 and 25, 2025.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Dialla Wellington presented evidence from Alhaji Thorley, Head of Finance at Orange Mobile Money, who reported significant anomalies in the company's banking records. Thorley testified that unexplained discrepancies in the accused individuals' account balances prompted an investigation, which subsequently revealed unauthorized transactions directed into the personal accounts of the accused.

The defendants did not enter any pleas during the proceedings. Following the prosecution’s presentation, Magistrate Bangura denied bail and ordered the accused to be remanded to correctional facilities. The case has been adjourned to April 17th, 2025, as legal teams prepare for further litigation in what is anticipated to be a landmark trial for Sierra Leone's financial sector.