The Anti Corruption Commissioner (ACC) Joseph Kamara yesterday told Journalists that it is the decision of the President to either retain or sack the former Director General of NASSIT Edmond Koroma who is now Financial Secretary, and the Deputy Director General of NASSIT Gibril Saccoh.
The two who are technically employed by the Government of Sierra Leone have been ordered by the ACC to pay Le 500, 000,000 (five hundred million Leones each) for money lost by the government for the purchase of two ferries in 2008. He added that the two who are among the group of four were ordered to pay because they were responsible for the management of the funds.
Mr Kamara noted that the decision taken by the Commission was done on three thematic areas: contract of purchasing of the ferries; contract for the repairs to the ferries and contract of services.
The Commissioner maintained that the four were asked to pay not because of the decision taken to purchase the ferries which was good, but because the ferries bought never served its purposes.
Explaining on how they came to the conclusion for the four to pay Le 2 Billion Leones, he said that they looked at the money government lost, looked at the investigation report and also looked at the professionalism of the law and merge them all.
Mr. Kamara maintained that they also took into account the civil and criminal aspect of the case and it was evident that government needs the money so “we merged the money and the crime”.
He opined that during their investigations a lot of people of interests emerged, but “we look at those who were more responsible for the management of the funds”.
“We are in active dialogue with the parties involved, if they fail to pay a court action will be taken against them. He also reiterated that they are monitoring the bank accounts of the parties both locally and internationally.
The Commissioner averred that paying the money does not mean that the four are guilty of the offence, because it is only the courts which can prove whether they are guilty or not.
Mr. Kamara stated that last year they received 542 cases of corruption.
By Abibatu Kamara
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