Sierra Leone News: ACC/High Court Master and Registrar case continues

Sports

The 2nd accused, Adele Faya, and the 4th accused, Isatu Ulaikatu Kiamp Kamara in the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) matter involving High Court fine of Le60 million have made an unsworn statement before Justice Bintu Alhadi in their defense. Both accused denied the allegations stating that they never conspired with other people to deprive government from receiving revenues. They denied stealing money. Faya was the first to address the Judge at the Siaka Stevens Street High Court in Freetown, on Tuesday 9 July 2019. Speaking from the dock, she acknowledged the offenses for which she was charged. She also informed the Judge of her duty as Account Clerk who pays monies into an account known as the Master and Registrar Account. She said she had never received or collected fines for the National Revenue Authority. She said at the ACC, she was called upon to make a statement three times. During the interview, she was asked to answer to the allegations. Having spent nine days in custody, she answered to the allegations so that she will fulfill her bail condition. The 4th accused, Kamara, is a revenue officer of the National Revenue Authority (NRA). She told the Judge that her duties were those outlined to her by the NRA and that she reports directly to the NRA. She said she occupies the same office space with the Judicial Sub Treasury and she sometimes assist the treasury with the counting of money whenever she was called upon. Kamara stated that she did not know whether the money in question was part of what she counted on the alleged date. She denied ever receiving payment in respect of Shears-Moses. She denied giving money to the 1st and 3rd accused.

Kamara asked the Court to discountenance whatever statement she had made to the Commission. She said even though she had admitted to the Commission that she was in the right mind when she made the statement, she was under pressure, not knowing the consequences. She also stated that she was a new mother and was thinking about her children. The accused were not cross-examined. The Judge also admonished them on the effects of an unsworn statement to their case. The accused are jointly charged with the High Court Master and Registrar, Stephen Yayah Mansaray (1st accused), and Abubakarr Bangura (3rd accused) Revenue Officers of the National Revenue Authority (NRA). The ACC alleged that the accused between 12th and 20th March 2019, misappropriated a Le60 million High Court fine. According to the ACC the money was in respect of a fine levied on Emmanuel Ekundayo Shears Moses, after he was convicted of corruption offenses. The money was paid by his solicitor’s clerk on 12 March 2019. The ACC further alleged that the four accused received the money but failed to deposit it into the Consolidated Fund of the Government. The ACC said that the accused could not give a reasonable explanation on whether the money was deposited into the consolidated fund as they could not produce receipts by the National Revenue Authority regarding the deposit. The court adjourned the matter to Monday 15 July 2019.

Fill the forms below to register

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.