The convicted Mayor of Freetown, Herbert George-Williams has told Politico that he may run again for Mayor in November’s elections. This despite his conviction for corruption.
He spoke to Politico yesterday following a high court fining him Le 170 Million for the two counts of corruption bordering on breach of procurement procedure for which he was convicted last week. He was also acquitted on 17 others charges. His chief administrator, Bowenson Phillips and his treasurer Sylvester Momoh Konehni were each fined Le 120 Million. Three others were each fined Le 30 million. They are to pay within 30 days or be sent to jail for three years.
Clad in his dark suit, Herbert George-Williams initially wore a smile as he appeared in a courtroom packed with mostly his supporters. But the smile vanished, albeit temporarily, as high court judge Ugandan-born John Bosco Abu Katutsi started building up to the sentencing.
Handing down the sentences, the judge described corruption as a “scourge” which he said was “a cancer eating deep into society” calling it “anti-developmental” and “antisocial”.
Referring to it as a scourge, he said corruption must be fought without fear or favour. “The time for impunity is over”, he said, and hoped the sentence would serve as a deterrent.
Once the fines were announced the packed courtroom threw court protocol out of the window and started jubilating.
Responding to the sentence, a prosecutor for Anti Corruption Commission, Miatta Mariah Samba, expressed dissatisfaction that there was no mandatory custodial sentence handed down which she said they’d hoped for.
Meanwhile Herbert George-Williams gave the following reaction in an interview with Politico.
Politico: What is your reaction to your conviction [last week] and sentencing [today]?
Herbert George-Williams: In the first place I must say thanks to God. I received it with mixed reactions because I have served this city with all honesty and sincerity. To be convicted [and sentenced] today, for me, is a slap on the face.
Politico: When you say it’s a slap on the face what do you mean?
Herbert George-Williams: As I said I have worked for this city with sincerity and with the best of intentions. I have spent hundreds of man hours serving the city and the municipality. To be convicted or to be seen as a convict for me is a hard thing to receive. So I think it’s a slap in the face.
Politico: Are you disappointed in yourself for this or what?
Herbert George-Williams: No I am not disappointed in myself because my conscience is clear that I did not in any way tamper with government funds; I did not in any way do anything fraudulent. I think I am not sad, I am okay.
Politico: And what’s your next move?
Herbert George-Williams: Well I’ll let the public know I need to do some consultations and then I will inform the public as to what will be my next move.
Politico: Do you see this as the end of your political career?
Herbert George-Williams: No! On the contrary I see it as the start of my career because many great people have gone through more difficult times than this. And for me it’s a baptism which I have gone through and it has strengthened me for my political future.
Politico: Will you run again for Mayor this November?
Herbert George-Williams: I will let the public know within the next couple of days. I need to do some consultations with my family, my mentors and a few other people. But definitely don’t rule that out.
Politico: So it is possible you will run for mayor of Freetown?
Herbert George-Williams: It is possible I will run for Mayor of Freetown. To my supporters I want to say thanks for the support because in difficult times you need people around you. It is more painful to go through a problem and turn around and see nobody. But the courts were jam-packed because I believe people have trust in my leadership. People believe I have worked for the municipality that was why the supporters were there. And to them I say this is not the end of my political career. For me, as I said, this is the start of my career and I will pursue it to the fullest.
Politico: With the benefit of hindsight, do you regret serving as mayor at all?
Herbert George-Williams: No, on the contrary! Because many are the challenges of the politician. These are some of the things people go through. The reason I was convicted was for the hosting of the Morgan Heritage show. Sincerely it was for the welfare of the people. It was to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary celebration. That is why we brought these people. And I am very happy because at no point in time was evidence proffered against me that I siphoned money, I tampered with government money. I think that made me a happy man, irrespective of the conviction.
