The branch manager for Rokel Commercial Bank in Makeni, Roland Metzger is being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Rogbaneh Police Station for allegedly seizing forty Million Leones (Le40M) deposited by Joseph Kamara in Makeni for one Lamarana Mansaray in Freetown.
The Rokel Bank Branch Manager, Roland Metzger, allegedly seized the Le40 million after it was deposited by the boy, Joseph Kamara for his aunty Lamarana Mansaray who was waiting to receive the money in Freetown. According to Joseph, on completion of the deposits, while waiting for his deposit slip, he said he was shocked to hear from the manager that he has seized the forty million Leones for money one Jane Bangura owed the bank.
According to Joseph Kamara, he then called on his aunty who was patiently waiting in one of the Rokel Banks in Freetown who he said advised him to go to the nearest police station and informed them about the development. According to sources they said money was proceeds from sales of cartoons of fish supplied by Lamarana to her customers in the provinces and the boy was afraid to travel with the money which prompted the woman to refer him to the bank as she is operating with them.
According to police sources when they contacted Roland Metzger of Rokel Bank in Makeni on the alleged seize of forty million Leones belonging to a business woman by the name of Lamarana Mansaray, the manager did confirmed to the police at Rogbaneh police station that he had seized the money for the money one Jane had to paid the bank.
The police, according to a source, warned the manager to handover the money because seizing is an offence according to the law which but the manager refused to do so, prompting Lamarana to travel to Makeni.
According to a cross-section of fishmongers this reporter spoke with, they expressed their disappointment over the action of Rokel Bank Makeni branch manager Roland Metzger for seizing their money which according to them, was supposed to have reflected in their payment book since Tuesday 23rd July for supply of new goods.
The fishmonger said the woman in question hardly take loans from bank, noting that she is very simple in doing business especially when she loans them.
In an exclusive interview with Lamarana Mansaray at the Rogbaneh Police Station on the matter, said the bank manager Roland Metzger told her that he seized the money because one Jane, who is also a fishmonger, had to pay the bank and that, until they receive the money, he will not give the money to her.
This, she said, is impacting negatively on her business because each day she loses means a lot because doing business in fish is an everyday work that needs cares and attention.
The Criminal Investigation Department of Rogbaneh police station, when contacted, said the matter is under investigations and that they have interviewed the woman Lamarana and Joseph Kamara, as they are waiting on the Rokel Bank manager Roland Metzger to be interrogated.
They however confirmed to Awoko, that when the bank manager was contacted on the issue, he did confirm seizing the Le40 million that was deposited by Joseph Kamara.
By Mohamed Kabba
July 26, 2013
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