By Francis H. Murray
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) says the planned interviewing of former President Ernest Bai Koroma on Thursday, November 19, did not materialize because he did not show up.
The scheduled interview is in relation to allegations made by the ACC that there is evidence to suggest that he was involved in money laundering and the awarding of phony contracts, among others.
The ACC Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala told Politico that he was “considering issuing a warrant” for the arrest of the former president.
His no-show yesterday followed a failed attempt in October by investigators to interview him at his residence in Makeni. That could not happen after roadblocks were set up leading to Koroma’s residence. His party denied the account blaming it on the ACC investigators.
About yesterday’s no-show, Koroma’s lawyer, Joseph Kamara attributed it to security concerns.
“Even the convoy driving him from Makeni to Freetown he cannot account for what could happen along the way,” he told journalists outside the ACC headquarters.
“We have seen on social media that people are on the way mobilising because they are expecting him. And he had received a letter that he would be held responsible should anything go wrong” Kamara went on.
He added: “If they can give assurance of security he will be here. The former president wants to come and the state has to provide the necessary security”.
According to the head of Public Education and Outreach at the ACC, Patrick Sandi, they were expecting the former president to turn up for the interview on Thursday as agreed by both parties following an invite that was served to him.
Sandi said there were no reasons put forward by the office of the former President for his failure to appear before the commission.
He however noted that the legal representatives of Koroma visited the Commission’s head office yesterday morning and meeting with the Commissioner where they disclosed that their client had raised issues about his safety and was concerned about his personal security.
This is the third time the planned interview of Koroma has been called off, due to what the ACC sees as lack of cooperation from the former President. The most recent attempt was scheduled for the Commission’s regional office in Makeni last month. It was called off after supporters of Koroma took to the streets and mounted road blocks, restraining ACC officials from entering his residence.
The previous invite was negotiated and his appearance deferred.
Koroma, who is the leader of the main Opposition All People’s Congress (APC), is being investigated over allegations of corruption including money laundry and in relations to certain orders he gave in his capacity as President.
The former President and his party officials have dismissed all the allegations against them, describing the move by the government as a witch-hunt and a deliberate attempt to smear his reputation and those of other party officials.
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