News

By Kemo Cham

Former President Ernest Bai Koroma has dismissed findings in the Commissions of Inquiry (COI) which accused him and officials who served in his administration of committing corruption, describing them as politically motivated.

Koroma, in a statement issued by his office on Wednesday, accused the current administration of seeking to tarnish his image and vowed to defend his reputation through all available legitimate means.

Koroma’s comment comes after the release recently of the Government White paper on the findings of the COI.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

The budget hearing for 2021 has started on Thursday at the Treasury Building, ministry of Finance. The opening day of the budget planning process saw key ministries present policy strategies as officials of the Finance Ministry defined the government’s priorities for 2021.

Minister of Finance, Jacob Jusu Saffa, said the theme of the 2021 budget remains the same as in 2020, which is ‘Fiscal Consolidation for Human Capital Development and Job Creation.’

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

Opposition Member of Parliament, Mohamed Bangura has vowed to fight the recommendations of the White Paper that directly affects him. He said his lawyers are currently planning to launch an appeal against two recommendations in the paper.

Bangura, who was Minister of Information under the All Peoples Congress administration, was ordered to pay US$ 194,363 to the state which he allegedly collected from the International Gateway Fund that was under the National Telecommunication Commission (NATCOM).

By Prince j Musa in Kenema

The Minister of Social Welfare, Baindu Dassama Kamara, has announced plans to conduct a survey to determine the number of Persons with Disability (PWDs) living across the country. Kamara said the data will help the ministry plan to address the challenges of PWDs in Sierra Leone.

The Minister was addressing PWDs in Kenema at the National Commission for Persons with Disability office in the district.

By Francis H. Murray

The trial of former Mayor of Freetown Herbert George Williams and the Public Relations Officer of the opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) Party Abu Barkarr Daramy for the murder of journalists Ibrahim Samura resumed on Tuesday before Justice Augustine Musa at the High Court in Freetown.

By Francis H. Murray 

Preliminary investigations have continued before Magistrate Hannah Bonnie in Freetown into a one count charge of murder against Mohamed Sesay, who is alleged to have murdered one Allieu Sesay, his friend.

By Francis H. Murray  

Justice Jamesina King of the High Court in Freetown has sentenced thirty-five (35) year-old Alimamy Conteh, a labourer, to thirteen (13) years imprisonment after he was found guilty of sexual penetration of a 13 year-old girl.

Delivering her judgement, Justice King said she was satisfied that the prosecution had proven its case beyond doubt and therefore found the accused guilty of the offence charged, adding that she found the evidence against the accused to be unshaken during cross-examination as well.