By Mohamed Foday Conteh
The Anti-Corruption matter involving former Minister of Youth Affairs, Alimamy Kamara took a new twist on Monday 4th October 2021 at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Division of the High Court in Freetown with ACC Prosecutor Joel Deen Tarawally making a series of applications to amend the indictment against the former minister.
The prosecutor sought the leave of the court to amend five out of the nine count charges on which the ex-minister was arraigned in court for. He applied for counts 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 in the particulars of offence be amended.
Deen-Tarawally also told the judge for the word ‘Affairs’ to be inserted immediately after the words ‘Minister of Youth’ in line two of the particulars of offence in counts 5,6, and 7.
The prosecutor also applied for the deletion of the words ‘the Arab State of the Persian Gulf and resident in Tehran in’ as stated in line three of counts 8 and 9 of the indictment. The counsel for the State hinged his application contrary to Section 148(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965.
In addition to the application for an amendment of the indictment against the former minster, the ACC prosecutor also requested that count 1 and 3 be dispensed off. He said that the ACC wishes to offer no evidence’ on the two aforementioned count charges.
Counsel representing the former minister, Africanus Sesay did not object to the amendment made on the indictment and the discharge of his client on counts 1 and 3. He however informed the judge that the charges will have to be put again to his client and the witnesses that had already testified against his client will have to be in court anew for evidences.
Justice Bonnie granted the application made by the prosecution for the said amendment on the indictment and the case of no evidence in counts 1 and 3. She discharged the former minister on counts 1 and 3 as solicited by the prosecutor.
Kamara who also served as Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran and Member of Parliament was indicted on 9 counts of corruption offences. The ACC is alleging that the former minister failed to declare his assets, income and liabilities for a period of nine years as public servant in the then administration of President Ernest Bai Koroma. This, the ACC says is contrary to Section 122 (a) of their 2019 Act.
Justice Bonnie adjourned the proceedings tentatively for Monday 18th October this year with the ACC set to lead another witness to testify against the former minister.
Copyright © Politico Online (06/10/21)
