December 9, 2016 By Andrew Ngebuva (intern)
Chief Executive Officer of the Health Commission of Sierra Leone, Dr. Samuel Josiah on Wednesday testified in the High Court before Justice John Bosco-Allieu in the ongoing embezzlement matter involving one Avril Paris, former Secretary of the commission.
The accused was in court on 19 count charges ranging from larceny by servant, forgery, uttering of false document, to embezzlement, contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
State prosecutor, lawyer Cecelia Bull alleges that the accused in December, 2016, embezzled millions of Leones belonging to the commission.
Commissioner Josiah, who is the second prosecution witness, identified himself as a consultant, dentist and surgeon of the commission.
He said he recognised the accused as the former Secretary of the council and has worked for the council from June, 2014 to January, 2016.
The witness explained that the duties of the accused person includes typing, covering of meeting for the council, and committee in charge of petty cash registration of medical and dental practitioner, among others.
He recalled between January to February ,2016, while he was on duty at his office, one Dr. Momodu Bah entered the office of the commission and told him that he was there for an interview.
“I asked him to produce a registration certificate from the medical council but showed me a fake certificate. I observed that the signature purporting to be his was forged and the stamp on the certificate was never used for renewal of certificate,” he said.
Dr. Josiah said he immediately sent for the accused but was nowhere to be seen.
Meanwhile, the matter was adjourned to 19 December, 2016.