Sierra Leone Telegraph: 16 May 2020:
Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), last Wednesday, filed indictment charges against Sahr Kemokai, former Head of Procurement at the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA), on nine counts of corruption offences.
He was charged to court on three counts of abuse of office, contrary to Section 42(1); three counts of abuse of position, contrary to Section 43; and three counts of failure to comply with applicable procedures and guidelines relating to procurement, contrary to Section 48(2)(b) of the Anti-Corruption Act No.12 of 2008, respectively.
According to the ACC, between July and October, 2015, Sahr Kemokai in his then capacity as Head of Procurement at the SLMA, abused his office by improperly conferring an advantage on Ishmael Kamara – the Manager of Sheruk Enterprises; Alusine Kamara – co-partner of Hogo Cajeh Investment; and David Beahboye of TTN Global Limited.
Kemokai is alleged to have awarded Sheruk Enterprises a contract for the supply of office equipment; Hogo Cajeh Investment – a contract for the supply of furniture and fittings; and TTN Global Limited – a contract for the supply of two HF Base Radio, without advertising in an open bidding process for the supply of goods.
The ACC also says that in the same period, Kemokai knowingly abused his position as Head of Procurement at the SLMA, in the awarding of a contract for the supply of office equipment to Sheruk Enterprises – a contract for the supply of furniture and fittings to Hogo Cajeh Investment and a contract for the supply of 2 HF Base Radio to TTN Global Limited, for which he failed to issue out quotation forms to prospective bidders in contravention of Section 37(1) and Section 44 of the Public Procurement Act No. 1 of 2006; and Part VII of the Public Procurement Regulations 2006.
Kemokai is also alleged to have failed to comply with applicable procedures and guidelines relating to procurement, after failing to issue out quotation forms to prospective bidders in contravention of Section 37(1) and Section 44 of the Public Procurement Act No. 1 of 2006; and Part VII of the Public Procurement Regulations 2006.
He is expected to appear in the High Court in Freetown next Thursday, 21st May, 2020.
The ACC says that it “wishes to reassure the general public of its determination to curb graft at all levels in Sierra Leone, particularly in the area of procurement, which accounts for over sixty percent of Government expenditure.”
Praise goes to the anti corruption commission in their drive to fight this scourge of cancer of corruption that have held back our country’s development for so long. President Dr . Julius Maada Bio ,have recognised and rightly so , this cancer of corruption left unchecked will not only hinder our progress, but also our international standing in the donor community. If this anti corruption drive are applied correctly with out fear or favour regardless of your standing in society ,then I guarantee our country will soon be in the path for development like we’ve never witnessed before .When president xi of China came to power ,he told his country men and women he will fight corruption and he was true to his word.For instance ,two of the richest billionaires brothers Liu Han and Liu Wei were tried found guilty and executed for corruption and racketeering.Now that sends a clear message to everyone regardless of your wealth and status in society if you steal from the state and are found guilty the laws of the land will take it course regardless .
I’m not in favour of the death penalty under any circumstances,but it is my believe those that are found of plundering Sierra Leone state assets ,or come to think of it what belongs to every Sierra Leonean should if found guilty should be handed long prison sentences .To teach them and those who wish to try it a lesson .May be twenty or thirty years will serve as a deterrent and a clear message corruption doesn’t pay . Is no good charging people with corruption ,at this heighten times to divert attention to what is really going on in Sierra Leone and few weeks later let those individuals go scot-free with just a slap on the wrist .
I am not too verse about how many people have serve time since this anti corruption drive started.If you are announcing this indictments now for public relations exercise you might as well spare the nation a dog that barks and has no teeth moment .Sierra Leonean are sick to the teeth to see rampant corruption go on unchecked,while the ordinary man ,woman and children are paying the price for their evil actions .Some families don’t know where their next meal is coming from ,whilst this state officials are busy filling up their pockets with money that should be feeding every family in Sierra Leone . The best way to drive home the government is serious to ride our country of this scourge is to televised parts or all of the trials so the Sierra Leonean public can peep and see how this enemies of the state are treated.corruption is big part of Sierra Leonean life.