The Inquirer (Monrovia)
D. Webster Cassell
13 November 2008
Information gathered by this paper has revealed that over US$ 20,000 was mysteriously withdrawn from a business woman US-dollar account at the head office of the ECO-Bank Limited on Randall Street.
The information further said that a man identified as Venecious J. Collins, in June of this year appeared at the bank with a check signed by the victim for the withdrawal of US$15,600.
According to the information, Mr. Collins whose identification was photocopied by the bank's teller at the time, appeared to be the warehouse manager of the customer's business center and however claimed that he was sent by his employer to encash said amount.
The information claimed that the check was bearing the victim's signature which was included in the package/ document when she newly opened the account at ECO-Bank.
The information further revealed that on the day of the withdrawal, the contact number with which the woman originally registered was the identical number used by the person and accordingly, it was further contacted by the teller and later confirmed.
The information however confirmed that the woman from whose account the money was withdrawn did not know the fellow and denied his employment with her business center.
According to the information, the cell-number that was used at the time belonged to the woman's husband who is currently out of the country and it was revealed that during the time of the withdrawal the number was at a switch off and out of coverage area.
The victim, according to the information denied knowing any Venecious Collins that by then worked for her business center. Although an ECO-Bank official confirmed that the withdrawal was done, but the bank claimed that on the day of the withdrawal the teller phoned the same number and according to them the voice established was a woman voice.
The bank further said that they have realized that such withdrawal is not the first to affect that lady's account. It was quick to note that in September 2006 a girl identified as Emmie Kamara in the same manner withdrew US$4000.00 from her account. According to the bank, it was established that Emmie Kamara was the victim's daughter and it was alleged that she illegally withdrew that at the time.
The bank further said that they have conducted their in-house investigation and are doing everything possible to ensure that the information does not criminate the image of the bank.
They however indicated that they have provided to the Liberia National Police the identity of the fellow who carried out the transaction. But according to them the police has failed to locate or identify his where about.
When contacted the victim's lawyer, Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah confirmed that an illegal withdrawal was done from his client's account and that the case is currently being investigated. He however could not provide details into the case because accordingly it is being investigated.
Investigation has revealed that the Lone Star Cell has confirmed that during the period of June 2008 the number was at a switch off and out of coverage, but information from the bank indicates that at the time of the withdrawal the number was active.
According to the information, LoneStar Cell further clarified that the cell number was reactivated by October of this year, while the victim's husband has also denied link to any criminal transaction involving his wife account.
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