Justice Fatmata Bintu Alhadi on Thursday 13th August 2020 found former Deputy Minister of Works, Housing and Infrastructures under the APC led government, Khadija Olamatu Sesay, guilty of misappropriation of public property, and sentenced her to four years imprisonment or pay a fine of Le60 million. According to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), between December 2017 and September 2018, Sesay misappropriated a government owed vehicle with registration number ALK- 889 worth a little over $75,000.
She was indicted on one count for misappropriation of public property pursuant to Section 36 of the Anti- Corruption Act No. 12 of 2008. Delivering her judgment, Justice Alhadi said the former deputy minister was first arraigned in court on 11th February 2019, pleaded not guilty and was granted self bail. She said all of the prosecuting team’s witnesses are public officials, noting that the second witness, Mohamed Smart, in his testimony said he recalled when the vehicle was assigned to the minister on 8th December 2017 and was aware of the process.
The judge said Madam Sesay denied the said allegation to the ACC before coming to court, where she also made the same plea. Justice Alhadi said the accused was provided the opportunity to open her case, but cited she was awaiting her counsel and failed to do so in the end. The Honourable Judge said the accused treated the misappropriation of the said vehicle with impunity and took it as her personal property. After going through all of the evidence before the court, Justice Alhadi underscored, “In view of the evidence before the court and the law and considering that the vehicle has been found, I find Khadija Olamatu Sesay, former deputy Minister of Works, Housing and Infrastructures guilty of the offence of misappropriation of public property contrary to Section 36 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008.”
She then sentenced the convict to four years imprisonment or pay a fine of Le60 million within 28 days of the judgment. The matter was prosecuted by M. Sow of the ACC and the accused was represented by D. Taylor. MJB/14/08/2020
By Mohamced J. Bah