By Aminata Phidelia Allie
After almost a year in prison while the trial progresses, accused workers of the National Revenue Authority, the Sierra Leone National Shipping Company and Ecobank are set for either an acquittal or conviction in April.
The Freetown High Court’s Justice MA Paul yesterday announced 3 April as the date set for the judgment after what was legally referred to as “adoption of briefs” by the defense team and the judge.
The accused persons were indicted by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in June 2013 for alleged conspiracy to defraud the state and other corruption-related offences.
Among those to face judgment are Solomon Hindolo Katta, Idrissa Forna, Momoh Turay, Emmanuel Sesay and Catherine Katta. The third accused, Elizabeth King, is facing a separate trial, while the seventh accused, Santigie Kargbo is still at large.
Meanwhile, the matter of Elizabeth King, who is standing a separate trial on allegations of conspiracy to defraud the state and other corruption offences, has been adjourned for adoption of briefs and, subsequently, a ruling.
The adjournment came after her defense lawyer, Augustine Kailie Musa, informed the court that he wished to depend on his client’s statements to the ACC to prove her innocence. That automatically meant that the defense had closed its case.
Both prosecution and defense agreed to make written submissions and the matter was adjourned to Wednesday, 16 April.
(C) Politico 27/02/14
