Monrovia – Trial has started at the Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice for two employees from the Guaranty Trust Bank (GT Bank) who are accused of diverting into their personal use the amount of US$126,219.
Report by Kennedy L. Yangian [email protected]
The two employees are indicted on charges of theft of property, misapplication of entrusted property, criminal conspiracy and facilitation but denied the charges in open court on Tuesday.
Montnorancy Yancy, a posting teller at the bank’s Sinkor branch and Stanley Yorsee, the bank Head of Operations, pleaded not guilty when the clerk read the indictment against them on Tuesday.
“Now that you have heard the reading of the indictment against you, what is your plea, are you guilty or not?” asked the clerk. “We are not guilty,” two out of the three defendants charged in the indictment pleaded.
Based on their plea of not guilty, prosecution lawyers, Cllr. Jerry Garlawolo and Atty. Jonathan Massaquoi asked the court to proceed with the selection of the jurors and the defense lawyers, led by Atty. Saah Nyumah interposed no objection.
Out of the 16 jurors needed for the trial, 14 were selected while the remaining 2 are expected to be selected by Wednesday to pave the way for the production of witnesses by the prosecution against the defendants.
The indictment against the two stated that between the period of May 2015 and June 29, 2015, defendant Yancy, while serving as a Posting Teller allegedly received from several total gas stations around Monrovia the amount of US$126,219 with the intent of depositing into the company’s account.
According to the indictment, instead of co-defendant Yancy depositing the cash into Total Liberia account, he purposely, knowingly and criminally colluded with co-defendants Yorsee and Togba to take away the cash, thereby depriving the bank of the said deposit by its customers.
The indictment also stated that according to the GT- Bank policy, during the business day, bank tellers take the cash received from the customers to the Posting Teller and co-defendant Yancy received and verified the cash and signed the log.
“Additionally co-defendant Yorsee, head of operations who also co-signed said log was under obligation to ensure that the total cash received by defendant Yancy was posted into Total’s account but instead conspired with co-defendant Yancy and Togba to steal the money.”
According to the indictment, co-defendant Yancy, upon receipt of the money allegedly conspired with the head of operation Yorsee suppressed the deposit of Total account and credited the money to some individuals and employees as loans for interest by Yancy and Yorsee without the knowledge and authorization from the Management of the bank.
The Grand Jury of Montserrado County said the act of the defendants is contrary to Chapter 10, Section 10.2 of the New Penal Law of the Republic of Liberia.