One person named in last week’s Commission of Inquiry (COI) Report and Government’s White paper is Mr Charles Mambu, who is now claiming to have repaid every single penny demanded by the inquiry. He says that despite being told by state prosecutors that he is not a person of interest to the COI, his name and reputation has been destroyed by the government.
This is a statement issued by Charles Mambu’s organisation – Health For All Coalition (HFAC):
“The attention of the Board of Directors and Management of Health For All Coalition (HFAC) has been drawn to the Government of Sierra Leone White Paper on the Commission Of Inquiry (COI) in which our Executive Director, Mr. Charles Mambu was mentioned as one of those persons to refund money as earlier prescribed by the Public Account Committee in 2016.
“The Board of Directors and Management wishes to make it clear to the General Public that the earlier decision by the Public Account Committee (PAC) directing that we repay the loan was appealed against through the office of the Hon. Speaker of Parliament and the office of the Attorney General and Minister of justice. “Whilst awaiting their responses then, Management was directed by the Board to effect the loan repayment and at the same time pursue the appeal on the basis of obeying the report.
“On account of this directive, Management made the first repayment of this loan to the MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND SANITATION (MOHS) by a cheque totaling the sum of Sixty Million Nine Hundred Thousand Leones (Le 60,900,000.00).”
“This Cheque was eventually returned by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation with a statement that it had received instructions from the Accountant General Department that the refund should be made by swift transfer to the Treasury Main Accounts with Account Number. 1100501 at the Bank of Sierra Leone.
“In compliance with this directive, the processes of the repayments of Loan amounting to the sum Le 160,900,000 (were) re-initiated as directed and our Bankers-First International Bank SL LTD was directed to make the first tranche of Le 60,900,000.00 through the swift transfer system as prescribed by MOHS. “Between 5th September 2016 (and) 2nd AUGUST 2017 respectively the complete repayment of the loan was done. Copies of Receipts of these payments were sent to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the Office of the Attorney General and that of the Honourable Speaker of Parliament.
“All of these transactions took place long before the change of Government and the establishment of the COI by the New Government of Sierra Leone.
“Upon the establishment of the Commissions of Inquiry our organization was invited to explain on the status of the Loan Repayment. As Law abiding people, senior members of the organization appeared on the stated date and reported to the State Prosecutor Lawyer Robbin Mason and Team. “Upon presentation and examinations of all our receipts and other necessary supporting documents the State Prosecutor directed that Charles Mambu should not appear before the JUDGE as we have fully paid the loan as directed and that he was satisfied with the evidences presented.
“In view of the above, the Board of Directors and Management considered the inclusion of the name of our Executive Director in the white paper and its follow up actions as very unfortunate. “It is worthy to note that at every stage of this matter the rule of Law must be followed. In this light therefore, we have directed our legal representatives to present our responses and views to the Hon. Attorney General and Minister of Justice and the then State Prosecutor Lawyer Robin Mason and to ensure that all legal means are pursued to bring this matter to another end.”
By Ophaniel Gooding