Sierra Leone's anti-graft agency in largest single indictment

Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission has today indicted 29 people for various offences bordering on corruption. The largest number of indictments on any single day, according to the commission's spokesman, Shollay Davies. They are seven medical practitioners 22 others who are alleged to have misused both donor and public funds. The press release follows: Date: 07/03/13 PRESS RELEASE ACC INDICTS 7 MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS AND 22 OTHERS FOR VARIOUS OFFENCES RELATING TO THE MISUSE OF GAVI FUNDS AND THE 2011 AUDIT SERVICE REPORT FINDINGS The Anti-Corruption Commission has today 7th March 2013 filed in the High Court of Sierra Leone, holden at Freetown, 29 indictments on various corruption offences against officials of the National Health Sector Support Project, Ministry of Health and Sanitation and two other officials of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFed), one National Revenue Authority (NRA) Official and One Mines Engineer relating to the 2011 Audit findings as follows: 1. The State Vs Dr. Matthew Michael Amara: Charged with 27 counts of conflict of interest, contrary to Section 45(3) and Misappropriation of Donor Funds, contrary to Section 37(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 12 of 2008 totaling Le. 5,091,673,000 (Five Billion, Ninety-One Million, Six Hundred and Seventy Three Thousand Leones) 2. The State Vs Dr. Matthew Michael Amara and Sahr Amara: Charged with 38 counts of Misappropriation of Donor Funds, contrary to Section 37(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 12 of 2008 totaling Le2, 310,707,900 (Two Billion, Three Hundred and Ten Million, Seven Hundred and Seven Thousand, Nine Hundred Leones 3. The State Vs Bernard T.M. Dugba, Phillip Macauley and E.M Kabba-Kamara: Charged with 22 counts of Misappropriation of Donor Funds, contrary to Section 37(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 12 of 2008 totaling Le 1,168,845,616 (One Billion, One Hundred and Sixty-Eight Million, Eight Hundred Forty-Five Thousand, Six Hundred and Sixteen Leones) 4. The State Vs Dr. Kizito Daoh, Dr. Alhassan L. Sesay, Dr. Francis Smart, Dr. Duramany Conteh, Dr. A. A Sandy and Edward Bai Kamara: Charged with 22 counts of Misappropriation of donor funds contrary to section 37 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 12 of 2008 in the sum of Le 118,157,534 (One Hundred and Eighteen Million, One Hundred and Fifty-Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty Four Leones) 5. The State Vs Dr. Magnus Ken Gborie, Dr. Edward Magbity, and Lansana S.M Roberts: Charged with 17counts of Conspiracy to commit a corruption offence contrary to law, and Misappropriation of Donor Funds contrary to Section 37(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 12 of 2008 totaling Le. 654,627,500 (Six Hundred and Fifty Four Million, Six Hundred and Twenty Seven Thousand, Five Hundred Leones) 6. The State Vs Anita J. Kamanda and Abu Bakarr Sesay: Charged with the offence of Misappropriation of donor funds contrary to section 37 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 12 of 2008 in the sum of Le 50,000,000 (Fifty Million Leones) and Le 49, 280,000 (Forty Nine Million, Two Hundred and Eighty Thousand Leones) respectively 7. The State Vs Richard M. Kaimbay, Festus Mohammed Lansana, Patrick Mcarthy, Philip W. Macauley, Prince Moses Koh, and Mohamed Jalloh: Charged with the offence of Misappropriation of Donor Funds, contrary to Section 37(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 12 of 2008 in the sum of Le 952,749,883 (Nine Hundred and Fiftty Two Million, Seven Hundred and Forty Nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Three Leones) 8. The State Vs Francis J. Foday Musa: Charged with the offence of Misappropriation of public funds contrary to section 36 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 12 of 2008 in the sum of Le 54,793,300 (Fifty-Four Million Seven Hundred and Ninety-Three Thousand Leones) and Le. 56,568,240 (Fifty-Six Million Five Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty Leones respectively 9. The State Vs Mustapha Amara, Bob Peterson and Joseph Tewuleh: Charged with counts of Conspiracy to commit a corruption offence contrary to law, and Dishonest appropriation of Donor Funds contrary to Section 37(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 12 of 2008 totaling Le142,483,667.31 (One Hundred and Forty Two Million, Four Hundred and Eighty Three Thousand Six Hundred and Sixty-Seven Leones Thirty One Cents) 10. The State Vs Ishmael Kamara: Charged with 2 counts of misleading the Commission contrary to Section 127 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 12 of 2008 11. The State Vs Sorie Gindeh Kamara: Charged with 6 counts of Misappropriation of Donor Funds contrary to Section 37(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 12 of 2008 in the sum of Le.281,000,000 (Two Hundred and Eighty One Million Leones) 12. The State Vs Sahr Edison Tamaba: Charged with 2 counts of misappropriation of public funds contrary to Section 36(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 12 of 2008 in the sum of Le. 88,837,000 (Eighty Eight Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Leones) Twenty Two (22) accused persons have already been arrested and put on bail, awaiting arraignment in the High Court of Sierra Leone. Meanwhile, investigations into the findings of the Audit Report continues and the public will be informed of additional indictments in due course. The Commission wishes to reassure the general public of its continued resolve in the fight against corruption in Sierra Leone.