The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in its relentless efforts to mitigate corruption in Sierra Leone has on Monday 18th May announced the arrest and detentions of four National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) officials and one ACC official in Bombali district, northern Sierra Leone for “anomalies” and “allegations” of corruption in the payments of Social Safety Net SSN support to vulnerable persons in communities within the Bombali by NaCSA.
The five suspects who are currently helping the ACC with investigations are; Brian Smart Kanu, the Northern Regional Coordinator, NaCSA, Sheik Borbor Kamara, Bombali District Coordinator, NaCSA, Ramatu Obai Sesay, Finance and Admin, NaCSA, Mohamed Lansana, Data Analyst, NaCSA Johnette Kanu, ACC District Monitor Bombali.
A press release issued by the graft commission said the ACC District Monitor, Bombali who was expected to have monitored the payment process and report any anomalies, has already been suspended pending investigations for failure to work in compliance with her terms of references.
ACC’s Public Relations Officer, Margaret Murray said apart from the arrests and detentions of the five public officers for corruptions involving cash transfer to vulnerable beneficiaries, the commission is also encouraging all to be in full compliance with the assets declaration procedures as stipulated in the ACC Act 2019.
Asked for compliance with public officers she replied “we had some difficulties but since we put out a press release notifying them about May 31st as the deadline and the penalties set out for defaulters, they are now complying with the commission.
She said ACC will withhold salaries of defaulters, which will be strictly followed by suspension for their failures to declare their assets to the ACC, adding that further disregard of assets declaration procedures will led to the dismissals.
