By: Dawda M Jallow
An employee of Bloom Bank Africa, Salieu Gassama, was on Monday convicted on the charge of “stealing by clerk”.
Salieu has been ordered to pay a fine of D25, 000 in default to serve two years imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay a compensation of D227, 760 to the complainant in default to serve two years custodial jail term.
The particulars of offence detailed that Salieu Gassama, sometime in January, 2024, at Kairaba Avenue, being an employee of Bloom Bank Africa, and by virtue of his position, stole D383,760.00, being the property of Bloom Bank Africa.
He pleaded guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor narrated that the incident happened in January of last year when Salieu was assigned to collect money from the Gunjur branch of the bank, where he was given D172, 270 which should have been deposited into NAWEC’s account but failed to do so. The prosecution added that the accused was also assigned to Jah Oil Patrol Station to collect an amount of D211, 760, which he failed.
“When NAWEC was doing its reconciliation, they realized that the money collected by the accused was not deposited into NAWEC’s account. Then they wrote to the bank, and the bank did their internal investigation and they realized that both NAWEC and Jah Oil monies were never deposited into their various account. The bank then reported the matter to the police station. When he [accused] was confronted about the issue at the police station, he admitted to committing his crime,” the prosecution narrated to the court.
The prosecution further informed the court that the accused was able to pay D156, 000 and the money was given back to the bank and he was charged for the outstanding balance of the D227,760.
The case was presided over by Magistrate Mben Faal and the IGP was represented by ASP Amat, who applied under section 145 (1) of the CPC for Salieu to pay compensation of D227, 760 to the complainant.