Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has made a significant breakthrough in the fight against corruption, announcing the successful recovery of over NLe 34 million (approximately US$1.5 million) stolen by a former bank employee.
At a press conference held at the ACC headquarters on Tuesday, Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala revealed that the funds were embezzled by Salim Mansaray, a former bank worker who had been quietly siphoning large sums of money while working in a corner of the bank. Mansaray, who had fled the country to Dubai, was later extradited to Sierra Leone after a joint effort by local and international authorities.
“This sea of money represents the over NLe 34 million stolen by a single individual,” Kaifala said. “We have successfully recovered this entire amount, ensuring that the funds are returned to the people of Sierra Leone.”
In addition to recovering the stolen funds, the ACC also seized over NLe 1 million from Mansaray’s personal accounts, effectively bankrupting him. The Commissioner stated that Mansaray had been charged with several corruption and money laundering offenses and had pleaded guilty.
“He has been run bankrupt,” Kaifala declared, highlighting the severity of the actions taken against the former bank employee. “In addition to the recovery of the stolen funds, we have ensured that he faces full legal consequences for his crimes.”
Kaifala assured the public that the recovered money would be returned to the people of Sierra Leone, reaffirming the ACC’s commitment to holding corrupt individuals accountable.
“These criminals cannot hide. We will continue to pursue anyone who misappropriates money meant for the people of Sierra Leone,” he vowed. “They will repay every penny and face the consequences of their actions. Enough is enough!”
The recovery marks a major success in the ACC’s on-going efforts to combat corruption and restore integrity to the public sector. Kaifala’s statement serves as a stark warning to anyone seeking to exploit public resources for personal gain: “We will hound anyone who touches money meant for the people of Sierra Leone.”
