By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
In the High Court of Sierra Leone in the on-going matter between the State and Dr Samura Kamara and four others has continue by the presiding Jugde Justice Adrain Fisher.
The fourteenth prosecution witness Allan Ebu George made a disclosure that a charitable partner donated the sum of 2 million United Stated dollars towards the reconstruction and renovation of the chancery building in New York and further mention that the then permanent representative to the mission Dr Alie Kabbah received the sum of 1 million dollars into his personal account and that the mission never received complete one million dollar.
He made this disclosure during a cross examination with defense Counsel for the 1st and 3rd accused persons respectively M.P Fofanah Esq at the high court no.2 in Freetown.
Prosecutor C.T Matsebo Esq Led in evidence the 14th prosecution witness Allan Ebu George a resident in the United States of America employed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also the Minister, councillor in the United Nations Permanent Mission.
He continued that he was originally stationed from 2015 to 2020 and then reposted in August 2022 prior to this he was the councillor.
The prosecution witness identified all accused persons respectively and their designations.
Mr Allan said he was involved in terms of sending reports directly to the Director general and Minister of Foreign Affairs and international Cooperation.
Meetings he said were chaired by the previous Ambassador Dr Alie Kabba and the contractor was in attendance as the subject matter discussed during those meetings were updates of the building and time line on the completion of the chancery building and he took minutes of these meetings.
The witness continued that during his cross examination there was a procurement committee for the chancery building but this committee became ineffective and the 1st accused being head of chancery revived the committee which he said was securitized with members like the 5th accused Mr Foday Basil Kamara, a military financial attaché and more.
He went on that not all disbursements he was previewed to and at the time Dr Alie Kabbah took over there was a stop work order due to Covid-19 pandemic, and on taking over he said major work was done on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floor with electricity and toilet facility in effective use.
However, he said, the 4th floor had a staircase construct to it as he said finds were not coming in regularly.
When asked if these monies were paid, the prosecution said to his knowledge he is unaware if these monies were paid by then he said Dr Alie Kabba was the permanent rep to the chancery building.
Mr George also mentioned that there are video footages when the building was demolished and when it was constructed and that before payments are made there has to be a requisition.
Defence Counsel for the 4th accused A. Koroma Esq inquired of the witness due to the demolish and reconstruction of the building led to a change in cost of the project to which the witness agreed that the cost for the project changed naturally and also inquired of him how many building accounts was setup for the project when he was questioned by the ACC, the accused responded that only one building account was set up and was not aware of any other accounts setup nor funds that they were diverted.
Prosecution Witness testified that for every work done, the contractor will submits a report to the Ministry capturing work done, amount utilised, next stage of the project and amount for the next stage of the project and that all payments made were documented.
“Since I left the commission in 2016-2020 over 2 million USD was paid to the contractor on diverse dates said the witness who also said the second 2 million that was paid the 4th accused was no longer Minister”.
Fifteenth prosecution witness Edward Kama Minister councillor and head of chancery in Switzerland Geneva. Started work in April 3022 prior to this he was the Director of Administration and finance.
Matter has been adjourned to the 22nd September 2022 for further hearing.