The Southern Regional office of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has confronted public officers of the Sierra Leone Police, Immigration Department, the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), National Minerals Agency (NMA) and the National Revenue Authority (NRA), deployed at the Sierra Leone-Liberia border town of Jendema, to address allegations of corruption received through the ACC’s intelligence unit.
The engagement took place on 9th October 2020 at the Mano River Division of the Sierra Leone Police in Jendema, Pujehun District.
ACC’s Regional Manager South, Musa Jawara, said the allegations are serious as they hinge on the credibility of public institutions mandated to generate income and regulate public policies at the border.
Mr. Jawara highlighted a range of allegations from receiving bribes, facilitating smuggling, to the issuance of yellow cards at high cost without official receipts.
He specifically mentioned the allegation of Three Thousand United States Dollars ($3,000) extorted from some Chinese nationals by officers working at the NMA some months ago.
Mr. Jawara singled out individuals and institutions, who reports of abuse of office, conspiracy and misappropriation, were made against. He said that the allegations spanned a period of three years, adding that the pattern seems to be a norm and therefore called on all to treat the allegations with utmost seriousness.
The Southern Regional Manager assured them that the Commission is fair in dealing with all and therefore points to the engagement as an opportunity for the officers to depart from past wrong-doings.
Mr. Jawara also lamented on the findings of the Audit Reports of 2015-2018, citing billions of Leones of public funds misappropriated. He said such monies would have been used to facilitate the much needed developmental activities of the State rather than going into the pockets of few.
Resident Prosecutor of the ACC South and East, Abubakarr Sannoh Esq., explained some of the key provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 as Amended in 2019 by highlighting the offences and their corresponding penalties. He said offences like Abuse of Office do not necessarily involve exchange of monies but the improper conduct of public officers in conferring advantage upon themselves. Misappropriation of Public Funds, he noted, is the most common of offences for which several convictions have been secured by the Commission. He furthered that there are other offences, like Unexplained Wealth, which shifts the burden of proof on the accused.
He concluded by admonishing all public officers to seek the interest of the country over self as the law is no respecter of persons.
Responding to the allegations of corruption at the border, Major Bangura of the RSLAF said, the engagement was necessary to remind all public officers of their primary duties and responsibilities. He said the allegations may be true but stressed that the only reason for their presence at the border now is to enforce the Covid-19 regulations which can sometimes be misinterpreted as corruption. He however promised to remind all his officers to focus on protecting the territorial integrity of the country and resist all temptations of corruption.
Superintendent Joseph W. Saffa, Local Unit Commander of the Mano River Division of the Sierra Leone Police said that there is no need to defend or accept the allegations as the engagement is an opportunity to wake them up and put them on their guard. He promised to reiterate the seriousness of the allegations to his officers during morning parade, and will strongly caution all to desist from any form of corruption.
Public Health Superintendent, Nathaniel Thomas Turay, said the allegations of selling yellow cards were true but noted that all staff involved in such acts have been transferred from the border after extorting monies from two tourists who entered the country last year. He promised that they as new staff will resist and reject all forms of corruption while executing their duties.
Senior Compliance Officer of the NMA Fatmata Jalloh said that, the allegation of USD$3,000 extorted as bribe from some Chinese nationals was being investigated by her institution but cannot tell its status. She however said that all officers in her unit have been strongly warned to desist from all acts of corruption.
Other persons and institutions mentioned in the allegations also made responses and pledged to support the Commission in the fight against corruption.
By Sulaiman B. Sowa
14/10/2020. ISSUE NO: 7930