By Edward Marah
Some customers of the Kabala Community Bank a bank that has lost public confidence and truth under the leadership of its incompetent Manager Mr. Mohamed Kamara and some of its board members are demanding their money as they no longer trust the bank to manage their money following recent disclosure of a certain customer business dealing with the bank on social media.
The unprofessionalism and unethical behaviour of the bank have prompted some customers today to storm the bank to demand the withdrawal of their savings and closing of their accounts as they no longer want to continue doing business with a bank that has no respect for the privacy and confidentiality of their customers.
Many customers who visited the bank today were denied access to their savings on the excuse that the bank system was down when in fact the system was up and running. “I am going again tomorrow for my money and to finally close my account I don’t trust the bank anymore” remark a customer’s name withheld in a disappointed and frustrated manner at the behaviour of the bank
A retired senior banker told The Informant Media that, the behaviour of the Kabala Community Bank in making customers’ business details public on social media is not only unprofessional and unethical but a very serious offence that the bank could be sued in a competent court of law.
He said that the relationship between a bank and a customer is confidential, meaning that a bank generally cannot share customer information, such as the balance of a customer’s account, with any third party without the consent of the customer.
If the bank breaches the duty of confidentiality without proper consent or legal compulsion, the customer may take legal action against the bank for negligence which the Kabala Community Bank an offence the Kabala Community Bank has committed.
The manager of Kabala Community Bank, whose recruitment as manager is still subject to investigation as it has been alleged that he is not competent and qualified for the job alleging that he was handpicked to head such an important institution.
It would be recalled that a few months ago an internal audit review uncovered fraudulent activities involving Kabala Community Bank, Edward Davies and Associates Ltd, a Consultancy Firm engaged by the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) for work on the Kenema-Pendembu Road project and some staff of the ministry of finance where payments totalling Le 6.5 billion (Old Leones) were diverted to a fictitious account at the Kabala Community Bank, instead of the legitimate account at Rokel Commercial Bank.
Some of the prime suspects namely Jacob Tenga Sessie Deputy Director of Budget, MoF, Emmanuel Smart Accounting Officer, SLRA, Starlyn Kemoh Accountant, AGD, Ibrahim Bangura Senior Accountant, AGD, John Ellie Principal Accountant, AGD, Joseph Johnson Accountant, AGD and Philip Yomba Senior Accountant, AGD were arrested which according to an independent investigation they suspect where operating a scheme known as “recycled payment.”, in connivance with Kabala Community Bank.
As investigations are ongoing, the Kabala Community Bank manager and team should also be investigated. Meanwhile, the manager of the Kabala Community Bank Mr. Mohamed Kamara has refused to comment on the allegations lived on the bank when contacted by this press. Our investigations continue.