By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The High Court of Sierra Leone Holden at Freetown, it was stated in a Press Release dated the 7th November 2022, presided over by the Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda JA, has on Thursday 3rd November 2022, convicted Akuna Daniel Shorunkeh Sawyer, former Quality Assurance Officer of Plan International (1st Accused), Biasie Turay, former Admin Officer of Plan International (3rd Accused), Moses Ogendeh Kamara Chief Executive Officer of Community Empowerment and Rural Development (CEFORD) and of 9 Ogendeh Drive, Korgbo, Ogoo Farm, Freetown (5th Accused), Mohamed Ishmyle Bangura, Chief Executive Officer of Bombali Youth in Action (BOYA) and of No. 49 Payne Street, Makeni, (6th Accused) and Abubakarr Kanu, Salesman at Eddiecan Investment Enterprises and of No. 2 Magburaka Road, Makeni (7th Accused).
The Hon. Justice Komba Kamanda convicted Akuna Daniel Shorunkeh Sawyer, on Eleven (11) Counts of corruption charges; Misappropriation of Donor Funds, contrary to Section 37(1) and Conspiracy to Commit a Corruption Offence, contrary to Section 128(1)(a), of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 12, of 2008.
The learned Judge sentenced Akuna Daniel Shorunkeh Sawyer to a cumulative fine of Four Hundred and Sixty Thousand New Leones (NLe 460,000) or three years imprisonment. The Judge further ordered that the convict pays back to the ACC within six months, from the date of the judgment, One Billion, Three Hundred and Forty Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty Thousand (Old) Leones (Le 1,349,530,000), being monies he misappropriated and conspired to misappropriate from donor funds meant for the people of Sierra Leone.
Biasie Turay, Mohamed Ishmyle Bangura and Abubakarr Kanu were each convicted on one Count and each sentenced to pay a fine of Thirty Thousand New Leones (Nle 30,000) or three years imprisonment.
Moses Ogendeh Kamara was convicted on Counts 2, 3, and 4 of the charges; Conspiracy to Commit a Corruption Offence, contrary to Section 128(1)(a), and Misappropriation of Donor Funds, contrary to Section 37(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 12, of 2008. He was sentenced to a cumulative fine of One Hundred and Ten Thousand New Leones (Nle 110,000) or three years imprisonment.
It could be recalled that Akuna Daniel Shorunkeh Sawyer, and Seven Others, were on 1st December 2016, indicted by the ACC for misappropriating and conspiring to misappropriate donor funds meant for the people of Sierra Leone.
Meanwhile, the 2nd, 4th, and 8th Accused persons, Christian Clemens, Patrick Abubakarr Mahoi, and Hassan Bangura respectively, were acquitted and discharged by the High Court of Sierra Leone.
