Freetown, 9 July 2025 — In a major boost for accountability and good governance, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has handed over a cheque worth Le1 billion (Old Leones) — equivalent to Le1 million in New Leones — to the Freetown City Council (FCC) as part of recovered funds stolen from the Council.
The recovery is the first installment of a total Le3 billion embezzled through what investigators described as a sophisticated fraud involving FCC staff and bank employees. The cheque was formally presented to Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr and the Chief Administrator of the Council at the ACC headquarters in Freetown.
“This is a great day for the people of Freetown,” said Mayor Aki-Sawyerr following the presentation. “We are grateful for the speed, professionalism, and accuracy with which the ACC handled this investigation. This money was meant to serve our communities, and now it will.”
She further revealed that the funds will be allocated to a dedicated Council project, describing the recovery as “like having lost savings returned.”
The ACC has confirmed that administrative actions have already been taken against some of those implicated in the theft, while criminal proceedings are being prepared against the key perpetrators.
“This is not just about retrieving stolen money,” an ACC spokesperson noted. “It’s about restoring public trust and sending a clear message: corruption will not be tolerated in Sierra Leone.”
President Julius Maada Bio has consistently emphasized the importance of accountability in public service, saying, “Together, we can make Sierra Leone rise through accountability and focused delivery.”
This latest recovery marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to ensure that public resources are used transparently and for the benefit of citizens — a foundational principle in the fight against corruption.
