ACC Nails Three Customs Officers for Corruption in Sierra Leone

By Thaimu Thulla – 4^th August 2019

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has on 1st August, 2019, indicted Akmed Karim, of No. 49 Matindi House, Brookfields, Freetown; Mary Banya, of No. 26 Parsonage Street, Kissy Freetown; and Momodu Allieu Sow, of 7 College Road, Freetown, all Customs Officers stationed at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay, on two (2) counts each, of Soliciting an Advantage contrary to Section 28(2), and of Accepting an Advantage, contrary to Section 28 (2) of the Anti-Corruption Act No.12 of 2008.

According to the Particulars of Offence, Akmed Karim, and Mary Banya, between the 1^st December 2018 and 28^th February 2019, at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay in Freetown, solicited and accepted an Advantage to wit: two million, five hundred thousand Leones (Le 2,500,000.00) from Sigismond Tommy Mei to facilitate the clearing process of a container belonging to Juan Ruiz, a businessman.

The Particulars of Offence further states that, between the 1^st December 2018 and 28^th February 2019, at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay in Freetown, Momodu Allieu Sow Solicited and Accepted an Advantage to wit: three million Leones (Le 3,000,000.00) from Sigismond Tommy Mei to undervalue a boat belonging to Juan Ruiz, a businessman.

The three (3) indicted persons are expected to make their first appearance at the High Court of Sierra Leone Holden in Freetown on 12^th August, 2019.

The Calabash Newspaper The Calabash Newspaper

The Calabash Newspaper Established in 2017, The Calabash Newspaper serves as a trusted platform for news and general information dissemination, catering to a broad Sierra Leonean audience both at home and abroad through its active presence on social media. The publication is committed to engaging its diverse readership by reporting on topical news events in Sierra Leone, enriched with editorials and insightful commentaries on pressing issues of the day. In addition to local news, The Calabash Newspaper expands its scope to include topics of continental interest, drawing from various international publications that address political, economic, and social developments across Africa.

See Full Bio