By Mohamed Foday Conteh
The ongoing trial of former Maritime boss, Paul Sobba Massaqoui and 5 others on allegations of corruption has stalled because some of the defence lawyers said the necessary affidavit needed for an additional witness was not served to them.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Prosecutor Sarifou Harleston informed the court on 16th September that they intend to bring an additional witness to testify against all six accused persons. He said that he had served an affidavit to all defence counsels to that effect.
All of the defence lawyers except Ibrahim Mansaray said the affidavit had not been served them.
Lawyer Alfred Kamanda who is representing the second accused person said that he had not received any affidavit with regards the ACC’s proposed witness. He said that he did tell Harleston to inform him if the said witness is to testify.
Jesse Jengo, one of the defence counsels also said that he was not served with regards the additional witness that is proposed to testify against his client.
Two witnesses had testified against all accused persons in previous sittings. The first witness was an ACC investigator Foray who testified and implicated the men’s involvement in acts of corruption.
The second witness was the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, Brima Munda Sowa. He informed the court about how he directed Massaquoi to address a letter about the facelift of the headquarters of the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA).
Massaquoi, Executive Director, Peter Joseph Menjor, Acting Director of Procurement, Fodie U.K. Dabor, Acting Director of Finance, Hartwell Williams, Quality and Assurance Manager, Victor Alpha, Human Resource Manager and Festus Musa, Procurement Supervisor; all of the SLMA were arraigned in court to answer to five count charges related to corruption offences, ranging from failure to comply with applicable procedures and guidelines and knowingly misleading the ACC all contrary to the Commission’s Act No. 12 of 2008 as amended in 2019.
Copyright © Politico Online (17/09/21)
