October 5, 2021
By: Aruna Kamara (BO)
The Senior Investigation Officer at the Anti-Corruption Commission in the Southern Region, Martin Tarawallie has said that the local court number one in Bo has the highest number of corrupt cases reported to their Office. They have so far received over forty cases of corruption reported to them by the people in Bo District.
He made this statement during their engagement with the local court officials in Bo District at a meeting held at the Local Court No.1 in Bo last week.
Mr. Tarawallie said that the court officials should know that they are public officers and cautioned them with the relevant laws within the amended ACC Act to desist from involving in corruption.
He said that telling people bring goat, palm oil, rice among others that are not within the law as it also amounts, adding that “if you do not want to be called in my office, well it will be good to work within the law”.
The Local Court Clerks and Chairmen highlight the challenges they are facing to do their work, among them are: they are not paid; they buy most of the stationaries and the money they collect are utilized by the chiefdom administration that benefits from it.
They however called on the ACC to help them to ensuring that the government looked into their conditions of service.
The new Anti-Corruption Regional Manager, Mr. Sartie cautioned the local court officials to work within the amended 2011 Local Court Act, so that they will professionally discharge their duties.
“Do not take bribe from the people to deliver justice. Make sure that you do not delay in the trial of the cases and make sure that you have the local Court Act 2011 to guide you in work,” he said.
However, at the end of the meeting, the local court chairmen and their clerks were not happy with the ACC as they could not give their transportation refund to go back to their respective chiefdoms, which according to them, amounts to corruption but they could not state the legal backing of their accusations.