Sierra Leone News: Judge adjusts bail conditions for Ministry of Information officials

Business

High Court Justice Bintu Alhadi, has on 15th February 2019, revisited the bail conditions of Edward King, Acting Director of Information, and Soriba Kamara, accountant in the Ministry of Information after previous application by the defense counsels for the Court to consider a revisit of the earlier bail granted to the accused. On 11 February 2019, the defense counsel pleaded with the Court to revisit bail conditions granted to the accused on 5th February 2019 as the accused were still unable to fulfill the bail conditions. The new bail conditions now require one surety who earns Le30 million per month and owns property in Freetown worth at least Le150 million. The bail conditions also require that the accused surrender their traveling documents to the Court. Meanwhile, Joseph Foray, the Anti-Corruption investigator continued the tendering of documents obtained during the course of investigation. The Information Ministry officials are accused of misappropriation of public funds, failure to comply with procedures and guidelines relating to the management of public funds and failure to pay tax. Both accused denied the five count charges of corruption during their first appearance before Justice Bintu Alhadi. King is before the Court on one count charge of misappropriating Le60 million while Kamara is charged with four counts of misappropriating Le43 million. According to the ACC, between 28th December 2018 to 20th January 2019, the accused misappropriated Le206 million meant for a sensitization campaign on the Commissions of Inquiry. The ACC stated Kamara prepared the cheque in King’s name and then received a kickback from King of Le115 million. The ACC stated that Kamara then disbursed and applied part of the money for purposes other than what it was meant for. He could not account for the rest.

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