ACC Tenders 97-Page Statement, Documents
November 2, 2017 By Regina Pratt
The country’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has yesterday tendered a 97-page statement and other relevant documents in the ongoing matter between the suspended President of the Sierra Leone Football Association’s (SLFA) ,Isha Johansen and her Secretary-General, Christopher Kamara, who are both being tried on corruption related charges.
The 97-page statement and other relevant documents were yesterday (1st November, 2017) tendered in the High Court No. 1 by the 1st prosecution witness, Kennie Alie Brima Walker, an investigation officer of the ACC.
The matter was presided over by Hon. Justice Reginald Fynn.
Led in evidence by the ACC Commissioner, Lawyer Ady Macauley, Mr. Walker, stated that he came to know the 1st and 2nd accused persons during the course of investigating an alleged misappropriation of donor funds.
“Two sets of interview statements were taken from both accused. They were questioned and cautioned and their statements were read in front of them and they admitted that all that was read to them was their exact words, while they appended their signatures in acceptance,” Walker told the court.
The ACC witness also informed the court that they executed a search warrant at the premises of SLFA on Battery Street in Kingtom, in the presence of P.D. Greene and Bowen Freeman, who claimed to be employees of SLFA.
“The documents were itemised and signed by both the ACC and SLFA officials,” he said, stating that P.D. Greene signed on behalf of SLFA and six exhibits from the search log were also tendered in court.
The ACC official tendered in court SLFA’s payment voucher- 339 of 20th July, 2015 which contains an amount of twenty-four million, seven hundred and fifty thousand Leones (Le24, 750,000) used to offset loan from Mr. Arne Johansen of LEOCEM, who pre-financed the Sudan trip.
He also tendered four correspondences between SLFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which contained a press release dated 22nd June, 2016 titled: “withdrawal for under-17 CAF Youth Championship qualifier.”
Detail copies of transaction for payment transfer to Mr. Arne Johansen and also a transaction receipt dated 7th June, 2015, which were presented to the ACC by the second accused, was also presented in court.
Before the commencement of proceedings, ACC Commissioner, Lawyer Ady Macauley, objected the inclusion of Lawyer D. Taylor as an addition to the defense team, noting that he is currently a member of the Match Fixing Committee.
In response, Lawyer Taylor admitted being a member of the said committee, stating that he would resign before the end of the week and stressed that he should be part of the defense team.
The Hon. Justice Fynn upheld the objection on the grounds that SLFA is part of FIFA.
The matter was adjourned to Friday November3, 2017.