By Mohamed Foday Conteh
Justice Cosmotina Jarrett has on the 29th July 2021 at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Court in Freetown sent one Gibrilla Kamara and Michael Abdulai on remand for selling fake Covid-19 vaccine certificates.
Both Kamara and Abdulai were staff of the Western Area Urban District Coronavirus Response Centre (DICOVERC). According to the ACC, both accused were serving as Mobilisation Officers.
They are arraigned in court on three (3) Counts of corruption offences including, Conspiracy to commit a corruption offence, abuse of office and accepting an advantage, all contrary to sections 128 (1), 28 (2) and 42 (1) of the ACC Act No. 12 of 2008 as amended in 2019.
Both accused persons, between the 1st July and 5th July 2021 allegedly conspired with other unknown persons to sell fake COVID-19 vaccination cards for Le 350,000 (three hundred and fifty thousand Leones) each to people wanting to bypass NaCOVERC regulations. The said act is also against regulations of NaCOVERC.
Both Kamara and Abdulai denied the allegations levied against them in court.
Counsel for the ACC, Lawyer Sowe applied for the trial to be conducted by judge alone rather than by judge and jury. He made his application pursuant to section 144 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act No. 32 of 1965. He said that the said application is also supported by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.
Both accused persons were unrepresented in court. In lieu of that, Justice Jarrett asked them to seek legal representation in the next sitting. He added that the court will have to proceed with cross-examination with both of them if they fail to produce a legal representation in court.
The judge adjourned the matter for the 5th August 2021 with both accused remanded at the Pademba Road Correctional Centre.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (30/07/21)
