Corruption Scandal Unfolds at Bloom Bank as Staff Accused of Embezzlement

Allegations of financial misconduct have rocked Bloom Bank as two staff members were arraigned before the Freetown Magistrate Court, accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of Leones and submitting fake receipts.

Musa Joseph Sesay, who previously served as the bank’s Human Resource and Administrative Officer, and Joshua Gbanyah, a former Dispatch Rider who was later promoted to Administrative Officer, appeared before the Freetown Magistrate Court No.1 on Monday 11th August 2025, facing serious allegations of embezzlement and forgery related to the bank’s EDSA top-up payments.

The accused persons were brought before Principal Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah for their alleged involvement in the theft of over six hundred thousand Leones.

According to the charge sheet, the accused are facing forty-one counts, including conspiracy to defraud, larceny by a servant, causing money to be paid through false pretenses, forgery, and uttering forged documents — all violations of Sierra Leonean law.

The court documents allege that between January 2 and December 31, 2023, the two individuals misappropriated funds intended for electricity bill payments on multiple occasions.

Specifically, the prosecution claims that Sesay and Gbanyah facilitated the payment of NLe 621,000, money meant for settling electricity bills for the bank. It is further alleged that Gbanyah forged academic documents from the College of Digital Excellence, including statements of results bearing his name, which police say were falsified and signed by the college’s Registrar.

Both accused persons were present in court during the proceedings, alongside the second prosecution witness and lead prosecutor ASP Ibrahim Mansaray. Notably, lawyer Charles Pujeh, representing Gbanyah, was absent.

Magistrate Jah emphasized the importance of all parties being present at future hearings, stating, “I want all parties to be here while the case is being heard. The matter should proceed swiftly and efficiently.” The court has adjourned the case to August 13, 2025, for further proceedings. Meanwhile, the accused persons are on bail.

This case highlights ongoing concerns over financial misconduct within banking institutions and underscores the need for stricter oversight to prevent similar incidents in the future.