A High Court in Sierra Leone has approved a settlement agreement between the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Abu Kamara, ordering the forfeiture of three properties to the state, the commission said on Tuesday.
The ruling, delivered on Jan. 12 by Justice A.T. Ganda at the High Court in Freetown, formally adopted the minutes of settlement in the case The State vs Abu Kamara, endorsing an ACC-led non-conviction asset recovery process.
Under the terms of the settlement, Kamara forfeited a fully furnished four-storey building at Cemetery Road in Ogoo Farm, a two-storey building at Black Johnson off Peninsular Road, and an incomplete two-storey structure at Galun Road in Bo City, according to an ACC statement.
The court also granted the ACC authority to sell or dispose of the properties by private treaty, with proceeds to be converted into public assets in line with the law.
The ACC said the outcome highlights the effectiveness of its non-conviction asset recovery model, which allows for the recovery of illicitly acquired assets without a criminal conviction, while ensuring restitution to the state.
The commission said it remains committed to safeguarding public resources and recovering assets obtained through corruption.
By Brian King
