REF: ACCPR/I9/007                                                                                     
18th  June, 2019

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) wishes to inform the general public that it has recovered a total sum of SIXTEEN BILLION LEONES (Le 16BN) in the last one year. Of that amount, a second cheque of SEVEN BILLION, FIVE HUNDRED MILLION LEONES (Le7.5B) was on Monday17th June 2019, presented to His Excellency President (Rtd) Brig. Julius Maada Bio.

Presenting the cheque in the afore-stated amount to President Bio, at a ceremony held at State House in Freetown, Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala further confirmed that the Commission shall continue to strike a balance between “the court-led approach and the non-conviction based asset recovery approach to the fight against corruption.” He furthered that court-led conviction approach may appear strong to the public, but by itself alone is considered a very weak strategy to fight corruption. Globally, recovery of assets in anti-corruption efforts is more respectable than conviction alone. However, the ACC has had Nineteen (19) convictions with Forty Five (45) cases still pending and appreciates the support it is receiving from the Honourable Chief Justice and the entire Judiciary of Sierra Leone.

Receiving the cheque, and handing over same to the Deputy Finance Minister, Patricia N. Laverley, the President reiterated his commitment to building a modern medical diagnostic centre in Sierra Leone with stolen funds recovered by the ACC. The President further urged all and sundry to “fight corruption with every strength they have.” He maintained that his Government will not relent.

The Commission wishes to further re-assure the general public of its unrelenting determination to ensuring that public funds are protected, and where necessary, completely recovered.

For further enquiries, please contact Margaret Murray, Public Relations Officer, on Tel: +232-78-832-131.

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PATRICK SANDI

DIRECTOR, PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH