The Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) has said that it has charged two corruption related matters (2) matters to Court, investigating thirteen (13) others, closed investigations in another two (2) for lack of evidence. Officials of the Commission made this disclosure on Monday September 21, 2020, during its third update to the media and the general public on the actions and steps it has taken to address critical issues raised in the Audit Reports of Sierra Leone 2015 – 2018.
“… the Commission has recovered a total sum of Two Billion, Seven Hundred And Forty-Two Million, One Hundred And Eighty-Five Thousand, Three Hundred and Four Leones, Sixty-One Cents (Le 2, 742, 185, 304, 61).”
After a thorough review and analysis of the reports, 21 issues attracted the attention of the Commission, “with a view to investigating, prosecuting, or recovering public funds, public revenue, public property, as the case maybe, in accordance with Sections 7, and 48 of the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 respectively.”
The Audit Report alleged that the former Executive Director of the SLRSA, Dr. Sarah F. Bendu, and others, misappropriated public funds amounting to Three Billion Leones (Le3,000,000,000) purported to have been used for the shipment and payment of customs duty for Towing Vehicles. The ACC said the matter was charged to court, and the trial is in progress. “However, one of the accused persons, Madam Kipiatu Alghali, had pleaded guilty and was convicted and fined Three Hundred Million Leones (Le 300, 000, 000.00), and ordered to repay a restitution of Two Hundred and Twenty-Seven Million Leones (Le 227, 000, 000.00). The convicted person has paid a total amount of Five Hundred and Twenty-Seven Million Leones (Le 527, 000, 000.00).”
The Audit Report also alleged that the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC), the Executive Director of SALCAB; and the Board Chairman SALCAB, jointly misappropriated Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (USD$300, 000) meant for the construction of Cubicles for the Fiber Optic Project. The ACC said Three (3) persons were charged to court; and two among them were found guilty, and ordered to pay a fine of One Hundred and Twenty Million Leones (Le 120,000,000), and Sixty Million Leones (Le 60, 000, 000), respectively. They have paid their respective fines, according to the Commission.
The Audit Report discovered that the procurement of software (Oracle) for the Bank of Sierra Leone, worth over Five Million United States Dollars (USD$5m), was undertaken without following procurement procedures. ACC investigations established that proper procurement procedures were not followed through, with many causes for concern including retroactive approvals and failure to follow laid down guidelines on approvals. The software has been procured, installed, but not put in use yet due to challenges arising from contractual relationship and COVID-19 interruption, according to ACC.
“However, there are various issues of official misconduct and abuse of office or position that are now under review by the Prosecutions Department of the ACC to determine if the said conducts of the former Governors, the Board of Directors and various staff of the Bank of Sierra Leone meet prosecutorial threshold for prosecution. The Public will be updated further on this in due course,” the ACC said.
The Audit Report alleged that withdrawals amounting to Three Billion Leones (Le 3,000,000,000) were made from the Ministry of Basic And Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) MBSSE’s Account. Nonetheless, there were no supporting documents for the alleged use of One Billion, Eight Hundred Million Leones (Le 1,800,000,000). “The ACC has analyzed same, and obtained statements from the Senior Finance Officers that undertook several projects, but failed to report. Investigation into this matter is still in progress.”
The Special Technical Audit Report 2018 underscored that National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) made series of individual donations. ACC investigations confirmed that donations were indeed made to public institutions, groups, and individuals, upon request to undertake development projects. “Some undertook the projects. Others did not. In this regard, the Commission has recovered a total of One Hundred and Fifteen Million Leones (Le 115,000,000) from the groups that failed to undertake the said projects. Additionally, two individuals have refunded the amount of monies donated to them. Meanwhile, investigation into this matter is still in progress.”
The Report alleged that the Ministry Of Local Government And Rural Development (MLGRD) could not account for withdrawals made from the Imprest Account, and other Accounts, amounting to the sum of Four Hundred and Seventy Nine Million Leones (Le479.000 .000.00), and Three Hundred and Fifty One Million Leones (Le 351,000,000) respectively. The Audit Report also highlighted that two desktop computers, amounting to Two Million Leones (Le2, 000,000), and sixteen (16) yards of carpet, amounting to Eleven Million Leones (Le 11,000,000), were not seen during the Audit Team verification. “The ACC has issued Notices as part of the ongoing investigations process. Investigations are ongoing in that regard and the public will be updated upon conclusion.”
By Sallieu S. Kanu
22/09/2020. ISSUE NO: 7923