Sierra Leonean Journalist Arrested For Stealing Le17 Million Mistakenly Paid Into His UBA Account

39-year-old Oshomo John, Journalist working for the Pan Africa Multi-Media Agency Pocket TV, was last Thursday arraigned before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Court No. 1 on three counts of larceny contrary to section 2 of the Larceny Act 1916.

The accused is alleged to have stolen Le32.9m from the United Bank of Africa (UBA) at Charlotte Street in Freetown. The prosecution said the money was mistakenly credited into the UBA account of the accused.

According to the Particulars of Offence, on count 1, the accused Oshomo John on the 29 December 2021, at UBA head office, Charlotte Street, in Freetown, did steal the sum of Le17 million that was mistakenly credited into his Pan Africa Multi-Media Agency Pocket TV account, property of UBA.

Count two states that the accused, on 30^th December 2021, at the same bank (United Bank of Africa), did steal the sum of Le930,000 which was mistakenly credited into his Pan Africa Multi-Media Agency TV bank account, property of UBA.

Count three states that the accused, on 31^st December 2021, at the said bank did steal the sum of Le15 million which was mistakenly credited into his Pan Africa Multi-Media Agency Pocket TV bank account, property of UBA. When the charges were read and explained to the accused, he pleaded not guilty.

Fritong Post Newspaper reports that, Defense Counsel E.W. Conteh applied for bail on behalf of the accused. Magistrate Kekura granted the accused bail in the sum of Le100m or one surety in like sum: surety must be permanently resident in Freetown.

The matter was adjourned to 20^th April, 2022.