By Umaru Fofana
Police in Sierra Leone on Friday released on bail three senior officials of the country’s football association after they had spent a night in custody.
On Thursday the President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Isha Johansen, her Vice President Brima “Mazola” Kamara and Secretary General Chris Kamara were detained on the orders of the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission.
They have not been charged.
Mrs Johansen says her arrest and subsequent detention left her “shocked and mortified”.
In a statement, she denied any wrongdoing saying: “my innocence in any allegation/s involving corruption or related offences is undisputed”.
The spokesman for the anti-graft agency, Alhassan Kargbo says they are investigating the FA for alleged corruption bordering on the receipt and expenditure of funds from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the world football governing body, FIFA.
They are also looking into gate-takings from international matches and cite discrepancies in the financial accounts of the association.
“We think that these funds were not judiciously expended,” Kargbo said.
Sources at the ACC say CAF sent money for the national junior football team to undergo an MRI scan and that the amount was withdrawn even though the scan was never done. The team was eventually disqualified by the continental body for nonfulfillment of the MRI scan criterion.
They also say FIFA funds for the development of football in the country have not been properly accounted for.
(C) Politico 2016
