By Mohamed Foday Conteh
The Court of Appeal in Freetown has ordered the Master and Registrar of the High Court to make available copies of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) hearings related to Dr. Richard Konteh, a former Minister and Chief of Staff in the past All People’s Congress APC government.
Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Ivan Sesay made the order on Wednesday 24th November this year.
Lawyer representing Dr. Konteh, Ady Macaculey told the judges that the reason he did not file his synopsis on behalf of his client was because he has written a letter to the Master and Registrar concerning a transcript of proceedings at the COI that had to do with asset declaration.
Lawyer Macauley said that the letter was addressed to the Master and Registrar on the 26th October 2021 and copied Justice Sesay.
He said the request was specifically for making available copies of Dr. Konteh’s testimony bordering on asset declaration for November and December 2019 at the COI. He said the recordings were excluded and they are specifically the ones they are seeking.
In another matter, Ady Macauley asked for an adjournment in the COI Appeal case of former deputy Minister on Information and Communications, Mohamed Bangura on the grounds that he was only served the White Paper of the COI with no affidavits, a situation that he said was similar to his other client, Dr. Konteh.
Both Dr. Konteh and Bangura served as Ministers under former President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma and were among the over 250 other public officials brought to the COI to answer to allegations of misappropriation of public funds and abuse of office.
Copyright © Politico Online 26/11/21
