Defence Team of Momoh Konte

in the matter of

Anti Corruption Commission versus Momoh Konte

Press Release - Dated this 5th day of July 2012

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The attention of the defence team of Momoh Konte in the ongoing trial of the Anti-Corruption Commission versus Momoh Konte and Alex Mansaray has been drawn to a press release from the office of the Managing Editor of Insight News Television Limited, on the 2nd of July 2012.

Insight News Television Limited are the producers of a film called Sierra Leone: Timber! presented by Sorious Samura, and broadcast by Al Jazeera English in November 2011. This film is at the heart of the trial in the High Court of Sierra Leone.

The press release from Insight News Television is inconsistent with the facts as we know them here in Sierra Leone.

Sorious Samura to all intents and purposes did not complete his testimony before the court in Freetown. On 26th of June 2012, the honourable court adjourned to the 27th of June 2012 and Sorious Samura was expected to continue responding to the defence team’s cross-examination.

On 27th June 2012, Reginald Fynn, Director of Prosecutions of the Anti-Corruption Commission of Sierra Leone was in Court to ask for an adjournment, because he could not produce his star witness - Sorious Samura.

It is therefore with shock and dismay that the defence team learns from the Insight TV press release that the Commissioner of Anti-Corruption Commission gave them the impression that Sorious has fully fulfilled his obligations to the court.

The letter purported to be written by Commissioner Joseph Kamara to Sorious Samura is totally out of sync with reality and cannot be endorsed even by his own prosecution team. There seems to be a total lack of communication in the ACC between the ACC prosecutors and the ACC Commissioner.

The said letter as quoted by the press release speaks of the malicious nature of the indictments as concocted by the Anti-Corruption Commission and the malevolent intention to cast Momoh Konte as corrupt even though the courts are yet to decide on his guilt or innocence.

The Honourable legal profession demands very high standards  of its practitioners and to have the head of ACC purportedly declare that Sorious Samura has satisfactorily completed his testimony and has fulfilled his obligations to the courts is not only dishonest but worrisome, to say the least.

The Defence team of Momoh Konte firmly stands by the creed of the law profession which demands justice and fairness for all.

In response to the last paragraph of the Insight TV Press Release, it is not a hidden secret that Al-Jazeera English has been put on notice in more than one jurisdiction regarding the film Sierra Leone: Timber!

Sorious Samura will answer to summons of libel here in Freetown and other jurisdictions where redress has been sought.