By Foday Moriba Conteh
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has informed the general public that the High Court of Sierra Leone Holden in Freetown, presided over by the Hon Justice Miatta M. Samba, has on 8th April, 2020, convicted Mohamed Sheriff, former Managing Director of Sierra Leone Cable Network (SALCAB) and Paul Sandi, former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications on One (1) count and Three (3) counts of corruption offences respectively.
Hon Justice Miatta M. Samba ruled that Paul Sandi pays a fine of One Hundred and Twenty Million Leones (Le120, 000, 000) on all three counts, and Mohamed Sheriff is to pay a fine of Sixty Million Leones (Le60, 000, 000) on the one count. The fines are to be paid immediately before their release or serve a jail term of three (3) years. Mr. Idrissa Yillah, on the other hand was acquitted and discharged on all three counts he was charged.
Paul Sandi, Mohamed Sheriff and Mr. Idrissa Yillah,were standing trial for various corruption offences, including, Misappropriation of Public Funds; contrary to section 36(1), Failure to Comply with Applicable Rules and Guidelines Relating to the Management of Public Funds; contrary to section 48(2)(b), and Conspiracy to Commit a Corruption Offence; contrary to section 128(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No 12 of 2008. The three persons were accused of misappropriating public funds amounting to $300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).
On another note, the High Court of Sierra Leone presided over by Justice Miatta M. Samba in another judgment acquitted and discharged Alie Badara Mansaray, former Commissioner, National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), on fifteen (15) counts of various corruption offences.
The Commission reassures the people of Sierra Leone of its relentless commitment in curbing impunity in public services
