By Mohamed Foday Conteh
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, Brima Munda Sowa has explained to the Anti -Corruption Court (ACC) court in Freetown of a correspondence between him and first accused the Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA), Paul Sobba Massaquoi during his trial and that of 5 others, at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Court in Freetown.
The Permanent Secretary was led in evidence as the second Prosecution witness (PW2) by ACC lawyer, Sarifou Harleston on Tuesday 7th September 2021.
Sowa, in his testimony said that he knew all accused persons as staff at the SLMA. The Permanent Secretary recalled sometime in 2020 when he received a letter addressed to him from the Maritime boss informing him about a project that was needed for the facelift of the headquarters of the SLMA building on Government Wharf in Freetown.
The letter, according to the witness, was done in order to seek the approval of his Ministry for the said project.
Sowa said that prompted him to issue a reply to the said proposal informing and directing the first accused, Massaquoi to the SLMA Statutory Board for assessment of the amount of money needed and approval of the said project.
Massaquoi, Ag. Director of Procurement, Peter Joseph Menjor, Ag. Director of Finance, Fodie U.K. Dabor, Quality and Assurance Manager, Hartwell Williams, Human Resource Manager, Victor Alpha and Procurement Supervisor Festus Musa all of Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA) were arraigned in court to answer to five counts related corruption offences, ranging from conspiracy, failure to comply with applicable procedures and guidelines and knowingly misleading the commission, all contrary to Act No. 12 of 2008 as amended in 2019.Justice Mohamed Bawoh adjourned the matter to Thursday 16th September 2021 with all six accused persons continuing to be on bail.
Copyright © 2021 Politico (10/09/21)
