Former Executive Director of Maritime Administration, Philip Lukuley, has said under cross examination that he spent seventy-one million, five hundred Leones entertaining Parliamentarians from January to July 2008.
Under cross examination by the lead prosecutor, Lawyer Reginald Fynn, Mr. Lukuley said he entertained the Parliamentarians by buying food and drinks at Parliament cafeteria, and that he did not get any bill or receipt.
He also denied receiving this money in cash and stated that it was his accountant that received such money and kept it in a safe in his presence. But according to prosecuting Lawyer Fynn, exhibits 10 to 14 contains break down of these amounts on different dates and stated that the witness does not spend that amount on entertainment.
Mr. Lukuley stated that the ten million Leones that was in exhibit 15 was spent on urgent national matters and cited a storm disaster in Kono. He added that his accountant received all these monies and kept them in a safe, but cannot tell if it was his safe or the accountant’s safe. But Lawyer Fynn said that the money was not used as stated by the witness
In relation to exhibit 17 which contains the payment of thirty million Leones, Mr. Lukuley stated that the signature there was not his own but admitted approving the payment by signing the cheque which, according to him, was given to ten chiefdom authorities across the country. Philip Lukuley is expected to close his case today.
By Alhaji Manika Kamara