The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) wishes to inform the general public that it has come to its attention that some Public Officials are using officially-assigned Government vehicles and property in a manner that is inconsistent with the use of public assets.
According to the Interpretation Section of the Act, a “public property [such as vehicle, house, computer, etc.] includes property belonging to Government, or to the people of Sierra Leone or a section thereof, or to a local authority, or to a Government Company, any commission or committee established by or under the Constitution or by or under any law, whether in Sierra Leone or elsewhere.”
The Commission wishes to therefore register that use of Government property should be in line with the ‘Best Practice Guide on the Use of Government Vehicles, Government Quarters, Telephones, Computers and other Office Equipment’ developed by the Commission. For the use of Government vehicles, for example, the Guide states that “vehicles are to be used only on Government business… Use of vehicles for personal reasons is not considered to be Government business. If however the need for a variation of this rule arises, each instance will be considered solely on its merit and approval given by the Head of Department or the Deputy in writing. Exceptions to the above are in the case of accident, sickness or breakdown.”
The Commission further wishes to draw the attention of Public Officials to Section 48 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2008 as amended in 2019, which protects Public Property, and which states that “any person who fraudulently or otherwise illegally…damages public property…commits an offence.”
The general public is therefore requested to report to the Commission any suspected misuse of, or damage to Government vehicles and other Government property to the toll free lines, 077-985-985 or 077-986-986, or to any of the Commission’s offices in Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Kono, Makeni and Port Loko.
All Public Officials should note that a conviction for this offence carries a minimum fine of Fifty Million (Old) Leones (Le50,000,000) or imprisonment of not less than Five (5) years or to both. In that regard, the ACC warns that failure to follow the laid down procedures will warrant the Commission to invoke the relevant provisions of the Act.
