By Aminata Phidelia Allie
More evidence is expected in court today in the matter involving staff of the National Revenue Authority, Ecobank and Sierra Leone National Shipping Company who appeared in court again yesterday.
The 17 accused persons have been consistently denied bail since their trial started in June.
Yesterday three witnesses from various institutions testified against the 10th accused, Abdul Mutalib Kamara before Justice M.A Paul. He is one of a batch of ten standing trial this week.
Susan Jalloh, who is group head of public sector at the Guarantee Trust Bank, told the court that on 7 August 2012 the head of finance at NPA, issued a cheque in favour of NRA through their agent, the national shipping company.
She said that she got to know about the cheque from the head of finance at NPA. After getting information about the said cheque, she called on one of the staff at SLNSC to enquire whether they had received it.
“But she told me that she was on leave and couldn’t help. She directed me to the 10th accused by giving me his phone number. I called him and he confirmed receipt of the cheque,” Jalloh testified, adding that she therefore pleaded with to make the deposit.
The witness further testified that the accused, together with Mabinty who claimed to be on leave, came to her office at GTB and told him that they wanted to pay less the amount into the NRA account.
“I told them that such practices were not allowed in our institution and which the MD of the bank also confirmed,” she recalled.
She said the MD ordered her to issue them a banker’s cheque or draft, which she did through the operations manager.
Meanwhile, all three witnesses yesterday tendered some documents to confirm the transactions that took place between NPA and their institutions.
(C) Politico 17/09/13
