By Prince J Musa in Kenema
The High Court in Kenema, presided over by Justice Francis Banks Kamara has jailed the former Assistant Finance Officer of Eastern Technical University (ETU), Sheku Abdulai Kamara to 15 years imprisonment for misappropriation of public funds and other offences, with an alternative to pay an estimated NLE 150, 000 (one hundred and fifty thousand New Leone) on the 28th May, 2024.
The said fine is to be paid in installments of NLE 30, 000, 00 (thirty thousand New Leone) on the last day of every month starting June to October 2024. Failure by the convict to abide by the above judgment shall result in him serving a 15-year jail term concurrently.
Kamara was prosecuted after he allegedly ordered some students to pay part of their fees into his account and the other part to the institution’s account which prompted the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to carry out an investigation and charge the matter to court.
Defence counsel for the accused, Victor S.S Ansumana asked the court for the 26 charges to be read again to the accused person. The lawyer’s request was granted and the accused pleaded guilty to counts 1, 2, and 3 and not guilty of counts 4 to 26.
The judge asked whether the prosecutor was ready to proceed in respect of counts 4 to 26 which the accused pleaded not guilty to, but lawyer B.C Samuel of the ACC stated that the commission does not wish to proceed by leading evidence of the said counts and therefore offered no evidence on them.
According to Justice Kamara, the act by the convict Kamara is considered an ‘’educational Treason’’ and therefore, the accused is not only an enemy to the state but also to the individuals who were affected and by extension, even their generations yet unborn.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (05/06/24)
