It can be recalled that whilst Mansaray has acknowledged soliciting monies, he had also gone on to explain that such action by him was simply a business tactic to test potential investors whilst he carefully looked at their facial features in order to tactically examine their credibilities as genuine businessmen with real money to invest. That is his explanation. Alex Mansaray is a known private businessman.
THE 7-COUNTS INDICTMENT AS FILED FOLLOWS:
IN THE HIGH COURT OF SIERRA LEONE
HOLDEN AT FREETOWN
THE STATE
VS.
MOMOH KEMOH KONTE
ALEX MANSARAY
Dated the 16th day of April 2012
At the Criminal Session of the High Court Holden at Freetown on the 20th day of January 2012, the Court is informed by the Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission that MOMOH KEMOH KONTE and ALEX MANSARAY are charged with the following offences:
Court 1
Statement of Offence
Soliciting an Advantage, contrary to Section 35(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008
Particulars of Offence
MOMOH KEMOH KONTE being a businessman, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Transtech International Ltd of No. …Percival Street, Freetown, and ALEX MANSARAY, CEO of African Sunshine Limited, Freetown, on a date unknown between the 1st October 2011 and 31st December 2011 at Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, solicited the sum of Fifty Thousand United States Dollars ($50,000USD) from Annas…and Bilal…, journalists attached to the Al-Jazeera International Television Network, to wit: being the sum purportedly to be given to the Vice President Chief Alhaji Sam Sumana for his assistance in the lifting of the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Forestry (MAFF) ban on timber export in favour of TAYBAR SERVICES
Count 2
Statement of Offence
Peddling Influence, contrary to Section 31(3) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No.12 of 2008
Particulars of Offence
MOMOH KEMOH KONTE being a businessman, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Transtech International Ltd of No… Percival Street, Freetown and ALEX MANSARAY, CEO of African Sunshine Limited, Freetown, on a date unknown between the 1ST October 2011 and 31ST December 2011 at Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, solicited the sum of One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ($100,000USD) from Annas and Bilal, journalists attached to the Al-Jazeera International Television Network, to wit: MOMOH KEMOH KONTE and ALEX MANSARAY to use their influence to obtain assistance in the lifting of the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Forestry (MAFF) ban on timber export in favour of TAYBAR SERVICES.
Count 3
Statement of Offence
Soliciting an Advantage, contrary to Section 35(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008
Particulars of Offence
MOMOH KEMOH KONTE being a businessman, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Transtech International Ltd of No… Percival Street, Freetown, on a date unknown between the 1st October 2011 and 31st December 2011 at Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, solicited the sum of One Thousand United States Dollars ($1000USD) from Annas and Bilal, journalists attached to the Al-Jazeera International Television Network, to wit: being the sum purportedly to be given as an advantage to one Sheku Mansaray, Director of Forestry Ministry of Agriculture Food and Forestry (MAFF) to expedite the issue of license for the export of timber in favor of TAYABAR SERVICES.
Count 4
Statement of Offence
Soliciting an Advantage, contrary to Section 35(1) of Anti-Corruption Act 2008
Particulars of Offence
ALEX MANSARAY being the CEO of African Sunshine Limited, Freetown, on a date unknown between the 1st October 2011 and 31st December 2011 at Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, solicited the sum of One Thousand United States Dollars ($1000) from Annas and Bilal journalists attached to the Al-Jazeera International Television Network, to wit; being the sum purportedly to be given as an advantage to Security Officers in the Office of the Vice President to expedite access to the Vice President Chief Alhaji Sam Sumana in favor of the said Annas and Bilal.
Count 5
Statement of Offence
Soliciting an Advantage, contrary to Section 35(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008
Particulars of Offence
ALEX MANSARAY being the CEO of African Sunshine Limited, Freetown, on a date unknown between the 1st October 2011 and 31st December 2011 at Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, solicited the sum of One Thousand United States Dollars ($1000) from Annas, a journalists attached to the Al-Jazeera International Television Network, to wit; being the sum purportedly to be given as an advantage to officials at the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Forestry (MAFF) to Expedite the issue of license for the export of timber in favor of TAYBAR SERVICES.
Count 6
Statement of Offence
Conspiracy to Agree to Give an Advantage to a Public Officer, contrary to Section 128 of the Anti- Corruption Act 2008
Particulars of Offence
MOMOH KEMOH KONTE being a businessman, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Transtech International Ltd of No. …Percival Street, Freetown, and ALEX MANSARAY, CEO of African Sunshine Limited, Freetown, on a date unknown between the 1st October 2011 and 31st December 2011 at Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, conspired together and with other persons unknown to agree to give an advantage to officials of the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Forestry (MAFF) in the sum of One Thousand United States Dollars ($1000), to wit: being the sum purportedly to be given as an advantage to officials at the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Forestry (MAFF) to expedite the issue of license for the export of timber in favor of TAYBAR SERVICES.
Count 7
Statement of Offence
Conspiracy to commit a corruption offence, contrary to Section 128 of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008
Particulars of Offence
MOMOH KEMOH KONTE being a businessman, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Transtech International Ltd of Percival Street, Freetown, and ALEX MANSARAY, CEO of African Sunshine Limited, Freetown, on a date unknown between the 1st October 2011 and 31st December 2011 at Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, conspired together and with other persons unknown to solicit an inducement for performing an act in relation to the affairs of the Office of the Vice President, to wit: held themselves out to be agents of the Vice President Chief Alhaji Sam Sumana and whilst acting as such, agreed to request moneys from Annas and Bilal, who sought audience with the Vice President, the said Chief Alhaji Sam Sumana.
STATEMENT OF OFFENCES:
SOLICITING ADVANTAGE; CONTRARY TO SECTION 35 (1); CONSPIRACY TO AGREE TO GIVE AN ADVANTAGE TO A PUBLIC OFFICER; CONTRARY TO SECTION 128; CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT A CORRUPTION OFFENCE, CONTRARY TO SECTION 128; AND PEDDLING INFLUENCE; CONTRARY TO SECTION 31 (3); VIOLATIONS OF THE ANTI-CORRUPTION ACT 2008.
INDICTMENT WITNESSES:
1. Felix Tejan Kabba, ACC
2. Ms. Kate M.B. Garnett, Asst. Dir of Forestry, MAFF
3. Mr. Sheku Ahmed Mansaray, Dir. of Forestry, MAFF
4. Mohammed Faray Kargbo, Journalist Radio 98.1
5. Francess Veronica Freeman, Journalist, Premier Tok Radio
6. Mr. James Caulker, V.P Chief of Protocol
7. Annas, Journalist, Al-Jazeera
8. Sorious Samura, Journalist, Al-Jazeera
JOSEPH FITZGERALD KAMARA, ESQ
COMMISSIONER
Anti Corruption Commission,
3 Gloucester Street, Freetown.
