Following an exclusive story carried by Politico on Thursday 28 February about the reduction in tariff for diamonds apparently timed to coincide with the valuation of a US$ 6 million gem bought by Lebanese businessman, Hisham Mackie, the ministry of mines and mineral resources has started probing the source of the leak of the letter.
A source at the ministry says minister Minkailu Mansaray, who has so far refused to talk on the letter giving directive for the tax reduction from 15% to three percent, was livid at the leak. The source quoted the minster as saying that the leak "has exposed certain anomalies we did not want to expose and now we are embarrassed".
In the letter to the National Minerals Agency , dated 19 February 2014 on the same day the 153-carat diamond from the eastern Kono district was found, the mines ministry says that a president decision had been issued for the tax reduction.
The Executive Director of the Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law, Ibrahim Tommy damned the tax reduction saying "The Koroma-led administration is under an unconditional obligation to enforce the laws of the state - not to compromise them at will". He questioned why, "at a time when the country needs every cent from its natural resources" such a concession was being given.
(C) Politico 04/03/14
