The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Sierra Leone announced on Tuesday the indictment of former Ecobank (SL) Limited executive Abdul Salim Mansaray, along with Ecobank itself, and two other individuals, Tallu Jalloh and Magnus Valentine Cole, on 147 counts of corruption and related offenses.
The charges include “misappropriation of public revenue, conspiracy to commit a corruption offense, and failing to report suspicious transactions,” ACC officials stated.
According to the ACC, Mansaray, formerly the Head of Retail Operations at Ecobank, faces 57 counts of misappropriating public revenue and other charges including one count of conspiracy and eight counts of providing misleading information.
The indictment alleges that between March 2022 and October 2023, Mansaray and Ecobank diverted funds designated for tax payments to unauthorized accounts linked to Cole and Jalloh.
The ACC claims that a total of Le17,453,863.35 was misappropriated, funds meant for tax revenue collected from several major companies in Sierra Leone, including Oxfam, FG Gold Ltd., and Meya Mining.
In addition to Mansaray, Ecobank (SL) Limited faces 142 charges, including 57 counts of failing to report suspicious transactions and 18 counts of neglecting due diligence requirements.
The ACC alleges that Ecobank allowed “significant, unexplained sums” to be deposited into Jalloh and Cole’s accounts without alerting the Financial Intelligence Agency, in violation of anti-money laundering laws.
“This case underlines our commitment to addressing corruption in all its forms,” stated an ACC representative, emphasizing the agency’s dedication to maintaining accountability within the public sector.
Both Jalloh and Cole are also charged with unlawful acquisition of public property and conspiracy to commit corruption offenses, signaling a broad scope in the ACC’s investigation.
The Commission reassured the public of its “unwavering resolve to tackle corruption across all sectors in Sierra Leone.”
