By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
A Freetown High Court presided over by Justice Bintu Alhadi on Tuesday convicted three of four accused persons who were standing trial for corruption related charges at the judiciary of Sierra Leone.
Among the accused was Stephen Yayah Mansaray, former Master and Registrar of the High Court of Sierra Leone, who was acquitted and discharged.
His co-accused, Adele Fayah, Account Clerk of the Judiciary, Abubakarr Bangura and Isatu Ulaikatu Kamara, both of the National Revenue Authority (NRA), were found guilty and sentenced to two three years in prison with the option of payment of fines.
The accused were prosecuted on two count charges of conspiracy to commit a corruption offence and misappropriation of public funds.
The case involved a fine of Le60 million that was paid on behalf of a convict, Emmanuel Ekundayo Shears-Moses. The money was supposed to be delivered to the National Revenue Authority. But according to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which prosecuted the accused, Ms. Fayah exchanged the money for two Guaranty Trust Bank cheques and all four of them later shared some of the money.
Fayah, Bangura and Kamara were all convicted on both counts.
Mansaray, who was the first accused, was acquitted and discharged on both counts.
Although testimonies during the hearing suggested that the former Master and Registrar received Le20 million of the money and colluded with the others in the scheme, the judge said she had to clear him because the prosecution could not prove this beyond all reasonable doubt.
In a 14-page ruling, she said: “Not that the 1st accused is not culpable, but the evidence adduced by the prosecution does not support the allegations that the 1st Accused person Stephen Yayah Mansaray conspired with the accused person or other persons unknown to misappropriate the sum of Le60 million…”
There were outburst of cheers, cries and laughter in packed court room in High Court No.1 as the verdict was read. While some could be seen in tears and anguish, others were in joy for Mansaray’s acquittal.
All three convicts are now expected to pay a fine of Le30 million each before the 11th of December this year or serve three-years in jail.
In addition to this, Justice Alhadi also ordered them to return to the National Revenue Authority the sum of Le 55million.
Ms. Fayah and Ms. Kamara were ordered to pay Le2 million each, whiles Bangura who played a critical role in the scheme, was ordered to pay Le 51 million.
The trial lasted for 7 months, and the case was regarded as a major test to the judiciary’s commitment to fighting corruption within itself.
During her ruling, Justice Alhadi said: “It appears that the accused persons were operating either an exchange bureau or a private bank with public funds. Public funds became personalized.
“Public officials should know that public funds are not their private money to be used as they want,” she added.
Meanwhile, the ACC in a statement shortly after the ruling said Mansaray is still standing trial on a separate indictment for various corruption offences.
© 2019 Politico Online
