By Aminata Phidelia Allie
A High Court in Sierra Leone has slammed a 5-year jail term plus a Le 90 Million fine on a former National Revenue Authority staff, who was dragged to court by the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission on corruption charges.
Elizabeth King, 33, was indicted alongside 16 others by the anti graft agency in June of last year.
She stood a separate trial because she had run away when the indictments were announced, which led to a delay in her trial.
Four months after her escape however, she was arrested by INTERPOL in the Gambia where she claimed she had gone for medical treatment for an illness she could not name.
She was convicted on 2 counts of conspiracy and misappropriation of public revenue.
Before announcing the sentence, Justice M. A. Paul stated that the fact that King had absconded at the time she was being sought by the police and ACC investigators only aggravated her case, adding that she had even refused to testify in defense of herself thereby relying on “unsworn-to statement she made to the ACC investigators”.
Justice Paul said the welfare of society was the concern of every citizen, and stressed on the importance of the NRA to the country.
“Of the trillions collected as tax revenue, only 30% of that amount goes to the government whiles the remaining 70% goes into private pockets of NRA staff like the accused and co." he said, adding "much of the money collected is used for the development of selfish individuals”.
(C) Politico Online 27/06/14
