By Mabinty M. Kamara
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has announced plans to investigate the Central Bank of Sierra Leone (BSL), among many other Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) over suspected official misconduct, abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds.
The ACC’s move was informed by preliminary findings in audits reports from 2015 to 2018.
“After a thorough review and analysis of the aforementioned reports, a total of twenty-one (21) issues attracted the attention of the Commission; with a view to investigating, prosecuting, or recovering public funds, public revenue, public property, as the case maybe, in accordance with Sections 7, and 48 of the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 respectively,” the anti-graft agency said in a statement.
The BSL is being investigated over the procurement of a software (Oracle), worth over USD$5m. The agency said the audit reports indicate that the procurement process was undertaken without following procurement procedures.
“ACC investigations established that proper procurement procedures were not followed through, with many causes for concern, including retroactive approvals and failure to follow laid down guidelines on approvals. The software has been procured, installed, but not put in use yet due to challenges arising from contractual relationship and COVID-19 interruption,” the ACC said, noting that its prosecution department is currently reviewing the issue to see if they meet prosecutorial threshold.
“There are various issues of official misconduct and abuse of office or position that are now under review by the Prosecutions Department of the ACC to determine if the said conducts of the former Governors, the Board of Directors and various staff of the Bank of Sierra Leone meet prosecutorial threshold for prosecution. The Public will be updated further on this in due course,” it states.
The commission also said that in relation to an ongoing case involving former Director General of the Sierra Leone Roads Safety Authority, Dr. Sarah F. Bendu, one of the accused pleaded guilty and was fined, in addition to payment of restitution.
Three other persons were also charged to court, two of them found guilty and ordered to pay a fine, in respect to the case of misappropriation of funds belonging to SALCAB.
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