By: Saidu Jalloh
Salima Mansaray, a former staff of Eco Bank who stole over 34 Billion Old Leones, money that was for National Revenue Authority [NRA], Anti-Corruption Commission has recovered a Whooping sum of 15 Billion Old Leones from Eco Bank on behalf of its Staff who connived with other people to steal over 34 Billion Old Leones.
Addressing the media, Commissioner Francis Ben Kiafala stated that 40% of the money was recovered. He said Eco Bank was responsible for the recovering as part payment process. Adding that the bank would pay the whole 34.6 Billion Old Leones as they were supposed to mentioned in place to stop the money from being stolen.
Commissioner Keifala also revealed that the bank would pay every months starting January 2025 2.2 billions Leones until September 2025, and that the bank he said was professional and because of the good relationship they had with Sierra Leone had complied to do the needful.
He announced that Salima Mansaray who embezzled the money and ran to Dubai was arrested and charged to court. Commissioner Keifela mentioned that all his personal accounts which had over NLE 1 million had been frozen and that they had planned to run him bankrupt. ‘’He has also been charged and pleaded guilty to many corruption and money laundering offences,’’ ACC Commissioner reiterated.
He highlighted that this is a testament to his hardworking team who are dedicated their lives to safe Sierra Leone from corruption, and he said that if one man who had no position, head no public institution and he is not a government minister could still this amount of money imagine if that kind of stealing is happening on a large scale, how could Sierra Leone prosper.
Keifala they are dealing with a country where illiteracy is high and that when they said someone had stolen 34.6 Billion Leone, people would understand what it means.
He explained that this is why they displayed the money which was recovered from Saalima Mansaray.
He narrated when Salima Mansaray went to Dubai they arrested the wife and revealed that it was three days she did not have a food and the wife also said that she did not that her husband had such money or had stolen such money.
Keifala vowed that all those that had inflected pains on Sierra Leone would also feel such pain. Commissioner Keifala concluded that they would return the money to the people of Sierra Leone.