By Saio Marrah
Francess Lawson, the Finance Manager of the Makeni branch of a local micro-finance institution called LAPO has appeared before a magistrate in Freetown on four counts of conspiracy to defraud, embezzlement, forgery of document, and altering documents.
According to the prosecution, 27 year old Ms. Lawson, who appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at the Pademba Road Court No.1 on Monday 29th November 2024, on diverse dates between the 1st April and 31st August 2023 in Makeni, with the intention to defraud conspired with other persons unknown and defrauded the financial institution.
The amount of money involved is (NLe 104,416) One Hundred and Four Thousand Four Hundred and Sixteen New Leones, property of LAPO Microfinance Sierra Leone Limited. According to court documents, Lawson embezzled the money received by her for and on behalf of one Alpha Amadu Jalloh.
On the offence of forgery and altering documents, the accused is said to have forged and altered a LAPO Microfinance Loan Application form dated 1st December 2021 purporting that it was prepared and signed by Aminata Jalloh.
The head of the Loan Recovery Unit of the institution, Sulaiman Jalloh, testified before the court on Monday that on the 28th July 2023, after receiving an internal audit report of the accused’s branch, he reported the matter to Sierra Leone Police for investigation.
A bail application by her lawyer was refused by magistrate Kekura on the grounds that the offence for which the accused is charged is “very serious.”
The case resumes 2nd February this year.
Copyright © 2024 (Politico 31/01/24)
