Sheku Mahmoud Kanneh continues to testify before Commissioner Biobele Georgewill at the Commission of Inquiry at the former Special Court compound on Jomo Kenyatta Road in Freetown on Thursday 21st March 2019. Kanneh had previously testified and was cross-examined by state counsel, Mewa in respect of the Road Maintenance Fund. During the cross-examination, Kanneh disclosed that the Road Maintenance Fund Administration is indebted to three banking institutions and other stakeholders to the tune of Le80 billion. “In 2012 and beyond, the Road Maintenance Fund Administration funded projects that were not maintenance related,” Kanneh revealed. “The Road Maintenance Fund Administration owed various contractors for works done and have not been paid,” Kanneh continued. He said upon assuming office he has instituted a liquidation measure to liquidate that huge debt, adding that the Road Maintenance Fund Administration will be paying the sum of Le2,445,000,000 per month to repay the debts. Defense counsel asked for an adjournment for the second time on the grounds that they need to have a proper conference with their clients to be able to put forward a very strong defense for them. State counsels did not object to the application for adjournment, and Justice Biobele adjourned the matter to Monday 25 March 2019.
SKS/21/3/19
By Sulaiman Karim Sesay
Friday March 22, 2019.