By Sulaiman Aruna Sesay
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), has banned two public officials, Mr. Emmanuel Smart the Accountant of SLRA and Mr. Ibrahim Musa Bangura the Accountant at the Accountant General Department, from holding public offices for 3 years after an investigation completed by the ACC for an embezzlement.
The decision in Pursuant to Section 7(1) of the Anti-Corruption Amendment Act, 2019, was interpreted as follows: An immediate ban for holding public office for a minimum of 3 years imposed on the two named Public Officers at the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) for being primarily responsible for the EMBEZZLEMENT of a total of Le8.6million Leones. After recovering the total sum of Four Million, Six Hundred and Fifty-Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty-Eight (New) Leones (Le4,654,658) from them in cash, and 10% interest on the said sum-amounting to Four Hundred and Sixty-five Thousand, Four Hundred and Sixty-five (New) Leones (Le465,465) in full.
The commission’s investigation into the matter involving a staff of SLRA and the Accountant General’s Department, in which over Eight Million Six Hundred Thousand (New) Leones meant as payment for the completion of the construction of the Kenema-Pendembu Highway was criminally diverted by them. The Four Million, Six Hundred and Fifty-Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty-Eight (New) Leones (Le4,64,658) represents the total amount that Emmanuel Smart and Ibrahim Musa Bangura withdrew from the banking system through the Kabala Community Bank, where they had diverted the funds and shared it before the remaining amount was blocked jointly by the Ministry of Finance and ACC.
According to report, they have paid the full amount misappropriated plus 10% interest and as a result of the banned from holding public offices in SL for minimum of 3 years, their respective offices will therefore be notified and must dismiss them from their respective public service posts immediately.
The report also noted that five other persons were investigated in the matter-Jacob T. Sesie- Deputy Director of Budget; John Ellie- Principal Accountant; Philip Yomba- Senior Accountant; Starlyn Kemoh-Accountant; Joseph Johnson- Accountant all of the Ministry of Finance and the Accountant General’s Department respectively, have been referred to their respective institutions for strong administrative disciplinary action for their respective roles in facilitating the crime or alleged benefit from it. 
The ACC thanked Ministry of Finance for their referral and their full corporation throughout the investigation.
