By Jane B. Mansaray.
In the alleged corruption criminal matter between the State and Six senior officials of the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA), the Sixth Prosecution Witness (PW6) Banda Sal Williams was yesterday led in evidence before Justice Mohamed Bawoh, a High Court Judge sitting at the Anti-Corruption Court on Main Law Court Building, Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown.
Leading evidence on oath from the witness box, PW6 an Information and Technology (IT) Engineer currently attached at the SLMA as IT Manager said he recognizes all six accused persons including the suspended Executive Director Paul Sobba Massaquoi.
Mr. Banda Sal Williams told the Court that he has served the SLMA for One Year Six Months, from the 1st August 2020, by then the rehabilitation work of the Headquarters Building at Government Wharf in Freetown had already commenced.
According to the witness, he was aware of the rehabilitation process at a Management meeting in which he got involved, and during an interaction he had with one of the contractors.
PW6 went on to state that his role and responsibility at the SLMA is to oversee the general IT infrastructure, and the day to day users support; and due to the frequent obstruction of Network by the contractors, Banda Sal Williams said he guided the rehabilitation team, through one Mr. Mustapha a supervisor not to continue distortion with the rehabilitation work.
Answering to questions and answers during cross examination by defense counsels Ibrahim Issa Mansaray and Alfred Kamanda, the witness said he cannot tell the processes for the rehabilitation commencement or as to whether procurement processes were followed or undertaken.
He confirmed the rehabilitation work at the SLMA Headquarters building which he said was not in good shape but now a good place to work with a facelift.
Paul Sobba Massaquoi, Executive Director, Peter Joseph Menjor, Acting Director of Procurement, Fodie U.K.Dabor, Acting Director of Finance, Hartwell Williams, Quality and Assurance Manager, Victor Alpha, Human Resource Manager and Festus Musa, Procurement Supervisor; all of SLMA are before the court answering to Five counts related corruption indictment, ranging from conspiracy, failure to comply with applicable procedures and guidelines and knowingly misleading the Commission, contrary to Act No. 12 of 2008 as amended by the Anti-Corruption Act No.9 of 2019, respectively.
The accused personsโ bail continues and the matter was adjourned to the 20th January, 2022 for further hearing
