Court of Appeal upholds Alimu Bah’s corruption conviction

The Court of Appeal of Sierra Leone, comprising Justices V. Solomon, E.E. Roberts and N.C. Browne-Marke presiding, has upheld the conviction of Mr. Alimu Bah, former Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLAFA).

It could be recalled that in June 2010, the High Court of Sierra Leone, convicted Mr. Bah for Misappropriation of Donor Funds in the sum of US$5,200 donated to SLFA by the Confederation of African Football, contrary to the Anti-Corruption Act. A fine of Le 20 million was imposed and in the alternative, one year prison sentence.

The Presiding Judge, the Honorable Justice Browne-Marke, in rejecting the appeal, commented that “having exhaustively reviewed the evidence at trial, we have come to the conclusion that the verdict of guilty was the right one. The Appeal is therefore dismissed for lack of merit”.

This judgment is a precedent in so far as the issue of whether statutory corporations are Public Bodies. The Panel of Judges upheld the arguments submitted by R.S. Fynn Jr. representing the ACC, that indeed Statutory Corporations, (SLFA) are Public Bodies for purposes of the Anti-Corruption Act.

The public is hereby reassured of the Commission’s undeterred and undaunted determination to fearlessly pursue the fight against corruption.

Koloneh Sankoh (Ms)

Deputy Director, Public Edcucation and Outreach

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