The High Court of Sierra Leone in Kenema has sentenced Sheku Abdulai Kamara, Assistant Finance Officer at the Eastern Technical University (ETU), to a fine of NLE 150,000 or 15 years imprisonment.
This verdict, delivered by Hon. Justice Francis Banks Kamara on May 28, 2024, follows Kamara’s conviction on three counts of Misappropriation of Public Revenue under the Anti-Corruption Act.
Justice Kamara also ordered Kamara to pay NLE 75,000 in restitution, the amount misappropriated.
According to court documents, Kamara misappropriated Le75,167,000 (old leones) from 21 students’ tuition fees between January 2021 and December 2023.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) initially indicted Kamara on 26 counts of Misappropriation of Public Revenue. On May 28, Kamara pleaded guilty to the first three counts during his second arraignment.
Justice Kamara condemned Kamara’s actions, referring to them as “educational treason,” stating, “Such acts make the convict an enemy not only to the state but also to the affected students and their future generations.”
The ACC was represented by A.B.C. Samuels Esq., while the defense was represented by S.S. Ansumana Esq.
The ACC reiterated its call for public officers managing public resources to adhere to established laws and procedures.
