Monrovia – A customer of Global Bank, identified as James Mawolo, is spending his first night behind bars at the Monrovia Central Prison for allegedly refusing to pay back the amount of US$8,000 mistakenly paid by a teller. The accused had gone to the bank to withdraw LD$8,000.
His arrest, Police says, has been predicated by a complaint filed against him by teller Winnie Haines assigned at the Ashmun Street of Global Bank.
Haines, quoted by the LNP, said on March 24, 2016 at about 1:30 pm, prior to the closure of the bank to the public, she instructed the security to collect all United States Dollars withdrawal slips from USD account holders in the bank.
She continued that during the collection of the slips, defendant Mawolo who had gone to the bank to collect the amount of LD$ 8,000 from his Liberian bank account (20402120121143) allegedly squeezed his Liberian Dollars slip among the USD slips.
The Global Bank teller furthered that during the payment of United States dollars, she allegedly paid defendant Mawolo US$8,000 instead of the LD$8,000 and explained that after the payment was made to the defendant, she realized that he was to be paid Liberian dollars instead of United States Dollars.
According to the teller, after the payment was made, she immediately contacted defendant Mawolo on his mobile phone number (0886664339) and informed him that she had paid him US$8,000 instead of LD$8,000
She stated that defendant Mawolo allegedly admitted he had the cash and promised to bring the money back to the bank but after few hours, the defendant failed to live up to his promise. He allegedly informed the teller that he needed to consult his lawyer to accompany him at the bank with the money.
The Police said after a careful review of the complainant’s statement as well as the CCTV recordings, its investigation established that defendant Mawolo was a legitimate Liberian Dollar account holder.
The Police alleged that defendant Mawolo filled in a Liberian Dollar withdrawal slip to withdraw the amount of LD$8,000 but criminally snuck the USD withdrawal slip, thereby collecting the amount of US$8,000
The Police alleged also said that its investigation also established that the CCTV recording showed the defendant taking delivery of the money. The Police maintained that defendant Mawolo was immediately contacted by the compliant after she realized that she had paid him the US$8,000.
“ Wherefore and in view of the foregoing coupled with the facts (CCTV recording) referenced the involvement of defendant Mawolo, the investigation resolved to charge the defendant with the crimes of theft of property lost, mislaid or delivered by mistake in violation of Chapter 15.53 of the revised penal law,” said the Police charge sheet.
Defendant Mawolo who appeared at the Monrovia City Court at the Temple of Justice Wednesday was reprimanded at the Monrovia Central Prison pending prosecution.