Post a comment 
Two bankers from Zenith Bank Sierra Leone Limited have been ordered to remain in custody after appearing in court on charges related to an alleged fraud involving Q-Cell (SL) Limited.
Hassan Fornah (35) and Mohamed Tharm (36) face three counts before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown. The charges include conspiracy to defraud, fraudulent conversion, and fraudulent embezzlement.
Court documents allege that between January 20 and March 17, 2025, at the bank’s Bo branch, the defendants conspired with unknown persons to obtain the sum of Le 2,155,898.00. They are accused of fraudulently converting and embezzling funds entrusted to them by staff of Q-Cell (SL) Limited, which were meant to be deposited into the company’s account.
During the hearing on Tuesday, the prosecution called its fifth witness, Inspector Alimamy Kamara from the Fraud and Financial Fraud Unit (FFFU). Inspector Kamara testified that he took over the investigation in May 2025 and obtained caution statements from both defendants, which were tendered as evidence.
He also presented several exhibits to the court, including deposit slips allegedly found in the first defendant’s possession, a cheque belonging to the second defendant, and correspondence between the police, the Financial Intelligence Agency, and the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Both accused were cross-examined by their legal counsels, L.B. Koroma Esq. and E.M. Kargbo Esq.
Magistrate Fornah denied bail and remanded the defendants to the Freetown Male Correctional Centre. The case has been adjourned until 18 March 2026. No plea was taken from the accused during this initial appearance.
