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An accountant employed by DirectAid Sierra Leone Ltd has been remanded in custody after appearing in court on Wednesday, February 11, facing 63 counts of larceny by servant involving the alleged theft of over one billion leones from the company’s bank account.
Abubakarr Adam Sillah was brought before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah of Pademba Road Court No. 1 following allegations that he had jumped bail while previously facing charges related to the missing funds.
The charges against Sillah fall under Section 17(1)(a) of the Larceny Act 1916. According to the indictments, between January and October 2022, while employed as an accountant for DirectAid Sierra Leone Limited, he allegedly misappropriated funds from the company’s account number 066011383690202 at Vista Bank, which was designated for aid services.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused, no plea was taken.
Prosecutor ASP Tommy Zaizer called Bhkett Yusif Mohammed to testify during the proceedings. The witness told the court that suspicions first arose when Sillah refused to hand over his responsibilities to a newly appointed accountant, causing a delay of more than two weeks in the financial office transition .
This resistance prompted management to establish an investigative committee. The investigation allegedly revealed that Sillah had withdrawn large sums of money in his name through one Abdulai Mohamed Bangura. Cheques used for the withdrawals, which had been in Sillah’s custody, were presented in court and tendered as Exhibits A1–29, with corresponding withdrawal slips submitted as Exhibits B1–17.
According to testimony, the defendant allegedly issued false receipts to account for the missing funds, submitted as Exhibits C1–7. When investigators contacted People’s Enterprise Company to verify the receipts, the company reportedly denied issuing them. Court documents suggest that in one instance, Exhibit C2, the same receipt was allegedly reused eight times, violating standard financial guidelines.
The witness further testified that after discrepancies were confirmed, the defendant allegedly admitted to forging the receipts. The case was subsequently reported to the General Manager, who instructed that the matter be escalated to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The court also heard that Sillah allegedly admitted using some of the misappropriated funds to construct houses. Documentation relating to the properties was produced as Exhibit E, while valuation reports detailing the location and value of the houses were tendered as Exhibits F1–29.
Magistrate Jah revoked Sillah’s bail and ordered him remanded at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown, citing delays in the defense’s bail application.
The matter has been adjourned to March 5, 2026, for further proceedings.
