BREAKING NEWS: ACC charges Sheiku Tejan Koroma on a three count indictment
The Anti-Corruption Commission today charged SHEIKU TEJAN KOROMA, Minister of Health and Sanitation on a three count indictment. The charges are abuse of office contrary to Section 42 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008, abuse of position contrary to Section 43 of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2008 and willfully failing to comply with the laws, procedures and guidelines relating to the procurement of property, tendering of contracts and management of funds, contrary to Section 48 (2) (b) of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2008.
The Commission alleged that the accused, SHEIKU TEJAN KOROMA on a date unknown between March 2009 and May 2009 at Freetown in the Western Area of Sierra Leone, being the Minister of Health and Sanitation, and being a Public Officer, abused his position as Minister, in respect of the award of a contract for the supply of medical consumables and reagents to the Ministry, by contravening the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2004, through the improper award of the said contract.
The Accused was arraigned this morning before the Honourable Ms. Justice Mary Sey and he pleaded not guilty to all three counts. The Accused was granted bail and the case was adjourned to 2nd December 2009.
This is the first time the Commission is charging a public official for the offences of abuse of office and position since the new Anti-Corruption Act was passed in September 2008. As part of its renewed commitment to ensure that public officers comply with the procurement laws of Sierra Leone, the Commission had for the first time earlier this month charged SARAH FINDA BENDU, former Acting Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Road Transport Authority with the offence of willfully failing to comply with the laws, procedures and guidelines relating to the procurement of property, tendering of contracts and management of funds, contrary to Section 48(2) (b) of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2008. SARAH FINDA BENDU was charged together with HAMZZA ALUSINE SESAY, Managing Director of Mabella Industries Limited on a 10 count indictment for several corruption related offences including misappropriation of public funds and making an excessive payment from public revenue for sub-standard or defective goods contrary to section 48 of the of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008. Both Accused has appeared before the Honourable Justice Nicholas Browne-Marke. The matter stands adjourned to 6th November 2009.
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