By Francis H. Murray
Two teachers who were accused of involvement in examination malpractice by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) were arraigned on Wednesday for the first time before Justice Bintu Alhadi of High Court No. 5.
The teachers, Henry Kamara and Marion Kamara were arraigned alongside third accused Emmanuel Kobby, who is an IT Engineer. The teachers also double as agents for the West Africa Examination Council.
All three of the accused persons were facing a total of five count charges in breach of the ACC Act of 2008. They were arrested in a raid last September by the ACC’s Scorpion Squad, after intelligence suggested that they were using their status as teachers and WACE agents to engage in an elaborate exam malpractice scheme.
The first accused, Henry Kamara of the Holy Family School, Wellington is alleged to have solicited the sum of Le 4 million on separate occasions from Olu Williams, to help his cousin, Simon Williams cheat in the exams, by writing the exams in a private residence, instead of the designated examination hall.
He is also alleged to have collected the sum of Le 450,000 from Olu Williams as an inducement to show favor to his friend, to take the said exam at a private residence instead of the designated hall, for which he faces three count charges.
The second accused, Marion Fullah Musu Kamara in the same school, also an agent of WAEC, allegedly solicited the sum of Le 1.5 million from Olu Williams as inducement to show favor to Simon Williams by allowing him to write the exams in a private residence instead of the designated hall.
Emmanuel Kobby, being an IT engineer and a teacher of the Holy Family School Calaba Town faces one count charge of Conspiracy to commit a corruption offence. He is alleged to have conspired with others to accept the sum of Le1.7 million from Elizabeth Kamara for the purpose of allowing her to take the examination at a private residence instead of the designated hall.
All three accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the five charges that they were indicted on.
Representing the State on behalf of the ACC, Prosecuting Lawyer Khadija Bangura said the court should not grant bail to the accused.
Bangura also filed an application in the court for the three to be tried just by a judge and not by judge and jury. She said doing so will ensure justice on behalf of the state.
Defense counsel for Kobba, Lawyer Mohamed Kenneh, pleaded with Justice Alhadi to grant his client bail, arguing that his client would not interfere with prosecuting witnesses, and would provide reliable surety and be available anytime he is required.
Representing Henry and Marion, Defense counsel, Lawyer Mohamed Yayah Kanu, also pleaded with Justice Alhadi to grant his clients bail, assuring the Judge that his clients will comply with all the requirements attached.
Justice Bintu Alhadi granted the accused persons Le50 million bail each, on the condition that each of them presented sureties with proof of income and place of work.
They were also required to be reporting to the Central Police Station every Wednesday.
All three accused persons presented sureties in the persons of Mohamed Sam Bangura, Osman G. Kamara, and Mamusu Kobby, respectively.
The matter was however adorned to Wednesday 18th March 2020.
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