PRESS RELEASE
Chief Immigration Clerk Convicted
The Chief Clerk at the Immigration Department, Alhaji Alie Badara Sesay, was on Tuesday 3rd March 2009 found guilty a two count charge of soliciting and accepting an advantage contrary to section 8(1)(a) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2000 as amended. The Accused was sentenced to pay a fine of Le 15,000,000(Fifteen Million Leones) or alternatively to a term of five years imprisonment.
The Accused, Alhaji Alie Badara Sesay, was arraigned before Honourable Mr Justice Browne-Marke on Monday 24th November 2008 for soliciting and accepting advantage as an inducement for performing his official duties contrary to section 8 (1)(a) of the AC Act 2000 as amended. The Anti-Corruption Commission alleged that the Accused being a public officer had solicited and accepted an advantage for him to prepare a passport for one Adama Kargbo. Six witnesses testified in court on behalf of the Commission
In passing judgement, High Court Judge, Honourable Mr. Justice Nicholas Browne-Marke said that he had no doubt in his mind that the Accused solicited the sum of Le 300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Leones) and concluded that the Commission had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. He pointed out that although the Accused was a first time offender his offence would have caused serious trouble for Adama Kargbo if she had attempted to secure a visa with the passport fraudulently obtained. According to the Learned Trial Judge, she would have got into serious trouble and could have been treated as a fraudster had she attempted to obtain a visa from a Western country which requires proof of fingerprints; with a passport that does not have her genuine fingerprints."
The Commission was represented by Simon Semalemba Esq. whilst the Accused was represented by Robert Kowa Esq.
Dated 3rd March 2009
Glennis Sourie
Communications Officer