November 1, 2017
The High Court of Sierra Leone Holden at Freetown presided over by the Honorable Justice Babatunde Edwards, on 30th October 2017, convicted Francis Lahai, Chief Executive Officer of Variety Children and Family Services, on one count charge of fraudulent failure to make payment of custom levy, contrary to Section 48 (1) (d) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008.
The Court fined the convict the sum of Thirty Million Leones (Le 30,000,000), to be paid within fourteen (14) days, or serve three years imprisonment.
It could be recalled that, Lahai, who runs the NGO Variety Children and Family Services, and also provides commercial shipping services to Sierra Leone, sometime between the 21st March 2016 and 12th June, 2016, used his NGO to clear commercial goods from customs on a duty free waiver.
The State was represented by Mohamed Muctarr Sow Esq., whilst the defendant was represented by Lansana Dumbuya Esq.
The ACC reassures the general public of its continued commitment to fight corruption in Sierra Leone.