By Ibrahim Sesay
Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, His Lordship Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda, has reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to strengthening the country’s legal and institutional response to financial crimes, terrorism financing, money laundering and other forms of transnational organized crime.
The assurance was given on Thursday, 25 June 2026, when the Chief Justice received a high-level delegation from the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for West Africa (ARINWA) at his Chambers on Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown. The meeting focused on advancing efforts to establish a comprehensive Asset Recovery and Management Framework in Sierra Leone aimed at enhancing the country’s capacity to recover proceeds of crime and strengthen accountability.
The ARINWA delegation comprised the organization’s President and Director General of Senegal’s National Office for the Recovery of Criminal Assets (ONRAC), Mor Ndiaye; ARINWA Permanent Secretary, Madam Kadiatou Ly Sangaré; and Assistant Permanent Secretary, Charles Ballet. The delegation was led by the Director of Sierra Leone’s Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), David N. Borbor.
Addressing the delegation, Chief Justice Komba Kamanda stressed the importance of establishing effective legal mechanisms that not only ensure the prosecution of offenders but also deprive criminals of the financial benefits derived from their illegal activities.
He emphasized that an effective asset recovery system is a vital component of the country’s fight against corruption, organized crime and illicit financial flows.
“Crime should never pay,” the Chief Justice declared, noting that a credible asset recovery regime is fundamental to promoting accountability, strengthening public confidence in the justice system and safeguarding the integrity of national institutions.
He further observed that effective asset recovery mechanisms serve as a strong deterrent to criminal conduct while reinforcing transparency, accountability and the rule of law. According to him, strengthening the legal framework for tracing, confiscating and managing criminal assets is essential to protecting the country’s economic and governance systems from abuse by criminal networks.
The visit by the ARINWA delegation forms part of broader regional efforts to enhance cooperation among West African countries in tracing, recovering and managing assets obtained through criminal activities. Such collaboration is expected to improve information sharing, strengthen institutional capacity and promote coordinated responses to cross-border financial crimes.
The meeting also highlighted Sierra Leone’s growing commitment to aligning its legal and judicial systems with international best practices in asset recovery and financial crime prevention, while reinforcing partnerships with regional institutions dedicated to combating organized crime across West Africa.
