ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSIONINTEGRITY HOUSETOWER HILL, FREETOWNSIERRA LEONE, WEST AFRICA

PRESS RELEASE

ACC SECURES CONVICTION AGAINST SHEKU ABDULAI KAMARA, ASSISTANT FINANCE OFFICER, EASTERN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY IN KENEMA

The High Court of Sierra Leone Holden at Kenema, presided over by the HON. JUSTICE FRANCIS BANKS KAMARA has on Tuesday, 28th May, 2024, sentenced SHEKU ABDULAI KAMARA, ASSISTANT FINANCE OFFICER of the Eastern Technical University (ETU) in Kenema to pay a fine of ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND (NEW) LEONES (NLE 150,000) or serve FIFTEEN (15) YEARS imprisonment following his conviction on Three (3) Counts of Misappropriation of Public Revenue, Contrary to Section 36 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 12 of 2008 as amended by the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2019. The Honourable Justice also ordered the convict to pay restitution in the sum of SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND (NEW) LEONES (NLE 75,000) being the total amount of money misappropriated.

According to the particulars of the various offences, SHEKU ABDULAI KAMARA, on diverse dates, between January 2021 and December 2023, at Kenema, in the Eastern Region of the Republic of Sierra Leone, misappropriated public funds amounting to Seventy-Five Million, One Hundred and Sixty-Seven Thousand (Old) Leones (Le75, 167,000) received from Twenty-One (21) Students as tuition fees for the Eastern Technical University.

Earlier this year, the ACC filed an indictment against SHEKU ABDULAI KAMARA, on TWENTY-SIX (26) Counts of Misappropriation of Public Revenue. On Tuesday 28th May, 2024, SHEKU ABDULAI KAMARA pleaded guilty to the first-three counts when he was arraigned for the second time.

According to the Hon. Justice, the act by the convict, SHEKU ABDULAI KAMARA, is considered an “Educational Treason” and therefore not only an enemy to the State but also to the affected students and their generations yet unborn.

The Commission was represented by A.B.C Samuels Esq. whilst the convict was represented by S.S. Ansumana Esq.

The Commission reiterates its call on Public Officers who are in control of Public Resources to comply with laid down laws and procedures in the handling of same.