Anti-Corruption Commission convicts two government officials
Two persons have been convicted and one acquitted on various corruption offences at the Freetown High Court presided over by Ugandan born Justice J.B. Katutsi on Friday 7th June, 2013.
The first accused, Mustapha Amara, Project Accountant, Integrated Public Financial Management Reform Project ( IPRFMP), Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED), was charged with one count of conspiracy to dishonestly appropriate donor funds contrary to law and a second count of dishonest appropriation of donor funds contrary to section 37 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008. He was acquitted on the conspiracy charge but was convicted on the other count. He was therefore sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. In addition, a fine of Le 60,000,000 (sixty Million Leones) was imposed or in default of payment of the said fine a further term of imprisonment of 3 years cumulative.
Joseph Tewuleh, Senior Driver, MoFED, was charged with one count of conspiracy to dishonestly appropriate donor funds contrary to law and three counts of dishonest appropriation of donor funds contrary to section 37 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008. He was acquitted on the conspiracy charge and was convicted on the three other counts. He was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment on each of the three counts to run concurrently. In addition, a fine of Le 80,000,000 (Eighty Million Leones) was imposed or in default a further term of imprisonment of 3 years cumulative.
The third accused, Bob S. Peterson, formerly Finance Administrator Reelin (SL) Limited, was acquitted and discharged on one count of conspiracy to dishonestly appropriate donor funds.
The Trial Judge, in passing sentence, said: “It is said the accused persons have no previous records; however, the method they used show that they are highly skilled criminals-they are grand designers of the web of corruption. They are anti-progress and anti-people-all they care about is themselves and, God for us all-the time for reckoning is now”.
The Commission was represented by Ady Macauley Esq. while the accused persons were represented by Sulaiman Kabbah Koroma, Melron Nicol-Wilson and Lornard Taylor.
It will be recalled that this is the first time a compulsory custodial sentence has been handed down on persons convicted under the Anti-Corruption Act 2008. The Commission wishes to assure the general public that it will continue to be steadfast in the fight against corruption in Sierra Leone.
ACC, Freetown
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