Joseph Kamara, ACC boss
By Aminata Phidelia Allie
A High Court in Sierra Leone today handed down a mandatory jail term for five people convicted for corruption. Six years for two, and three years for three others. They include a married couple.
The five - former workers of the National Revenue Authority and ECOBANK - are to also pay a fine and restitution.
First accused, Solomon Hindolo Katta - one of two to serve a six-year jail term - is to also pay Le 2.2 billion (US$ 500,000).
Idrissa Fornah (aka Okala) is to pay Le 200 million in addition to six years behind bars.
Former ECOBANK staff and wife of the first accused, Catherine Katta, is to serve three years in jail and pay Le 70 million.
The other two Momoh Turay and Emmanuel Sesay were each sentenced to three years in prison and to pay Le 40 million.
The sentence by Nigerian judge, Justice MA Paul came a week after they were convicted after almost a year of trial and is the longest ever handed down in Sierra Leone for a corruption offence.
It is also the first time there have been convictions for the offence called "unexplained wealth" which was added to the number of corruption offences in 2008 following an amendment of the Act.
The five were dragged to court in June by the Anti-Corruption Commission for various corruption offences bordering on misappropriation of public funds and unexplained wealth.
Led by Solomon Katta, the three former taxmen and two bankers were convicted for conniving to divert receipts paid to the revenue authority into a private bank account operated by Mrs Katta who worked at ECOBANK.
Reacting to the sentencing, Commissioner of the ACC, Joseph Kamara said the mandatory custodial sentence was the first handed down in five years. He said it showed corruption was a “no-go area", adding "We will not tolerate it and we will not condone people who are found guilty of it”.
A press release from the commission refers to it as a "landmark decision".
One of the defence attorneys, Eke Halloway described the verdict as “draconian”. Speaking to journalists outside the courtroom shortly after the sentencing, he said the accused persons were all first-time offenders and did not deserve the sentences they got. He said they would appeal the sentences in the coming days.
Meanwhile in a related matter, the trial of the third accused in the said case who could not be tried alongside them because she had left the jurisdiction, will come up on Wednesday 14 April for final arguments by the prosecution and the defence. Elizabeth King was extradited from The Gambia by Interpol after a red alert had been issued on her.
Seventh accused, Santigie Kargbo is still on the run.
Another batch of 10 people, also accused of corruption, will return to court on 22 May for the defence and prosecution to finalise their arguments before judgement.
(C) Politico Online 10/04/14
