By Amin Kef Sesay
In a Press Release dated the 16th June 2021 the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) stated that it has, on 15th June, 2021, filed an indictment against Mohamed Sheku Turay, a Banker at the Rokel Commercial Bank (RCB), and of No. 2 Alcock Street, Off Macauley Street, Freetown; Alimamy Sesay, Reconciliation Officer, Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), of No. 2 Sesay Drive, IMATT, Freetown; Noah Winnenah, the Marketing Officer, EDSA, of 1 Mends Street, Freetown; Abioseh Ola Barnes, Accountant, EDSA, of No. 39 Jerusalem Avenue, Metchem, Goderich, Freetown, Musa Momoh Lahai, Head of Commercial, North, EDSA, of No. 4 Matankoh Street, Makeni, Hawa Y. Kamara, Revenue Reconciliation Officer EDSA, of No. 166 Bai Bureh Road, Portee, Freetown, Mary Bangura (Mrs. Ngegbai), Revenue Assistant EDSA, of No. 26 Black Hall Road, Freetown, Rugiatu Kalokoh, Revenue Assistant, EDSA, of No. 36J Red Pump, Tengbeh Town, Freetown, and Walton Nathaniel Beckley, Former Nutrition Officer of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), of No. 2 Madingo Town, Off Congo Cross, Freetown, on Eight (8) Counts of corruption offences including; Misappropriation of Public Revenue, contrary to Section 36(1), Conspiracy to Commit a Corruption Offence, contrary to Section 128(1)(a), and Failure to Comply with Applicable Procedures relating to the Management of Public Revenue, contrary to Section 48(2)(b), of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 12, of 2008, as amended by the Anti-Corruption Act No.9 of 2019, respectively.
The charges concern misappropriation of public revenue totalling Six Billion, Five Hundred and Seven Million, Three Hundred and Five Thousand, Three Hundred and Eleven Leones, and Forty-Eight Cents (Le 6,507, 305, 311.48), in regard payments by Cheques for post-paid electricity use made to EDSA by various high consuming institutions which they used the banking system to divert and convert to their own use through personal accounts, and Conspiracy to commit the various corruption offences arising therefrom.
Moreover, Alimamy Sesay, Noah Winnenah , Abioseh Ola Barnes, Musa Momoh Lahai, Hawa Y. Kamara, Mary Bangura (Mrs. Ngegbai), and Rugiatu Kalokoh , are also charged with wilful failure to comply with the applicable laws, procedures and guidelines relating to the management of public revenue as stipulated in Section 11(3)&(4) of the Government Budgeting and Accountability Act No.3 of 2005. All seven (7) of them, being staff of EDSA, face jointly Two (2) counts of failure to comply with the applicable laws, procedures and guidelines relating to the management of public revenue.
Mohamed Sheku Turay, a Banker at the Rokel Commercial Bank (RCB), on the other hand, between 1st July, 2018 and 31st January, 2021, wilfully failed to comply with the applicable laws, procedures and guidelines of the Rokel Commercial Bank (SL) Ltd, in relation to the management of public revenue paid to EDSA for the supply of electricity. He faces separately, one (1) count of Failure to Comply with Applicable Procedures relating to the management of public revenue, contrary to Section 48(2)(b),of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 12, of 2008 as amended by the Anti-Corruption Act No.9 of 2019. He was also the principal person through whom Six Billion Leones (Le 6, 000,000,000.00) was diverted and misappropriated.
The Commission further stated that it wishes to reassure the general public of its determination to address public sector corruption especially in revenue generating institutions, and all other levels of corruption throughout Sierra Leone.
