Sierra Leone News: Three Teachers Admitted to Bail
By Isabella Cassell
The High Court of Sierra Leone, presided by Justice Cosmotina Jarrett has on Wednesday September 26, 2019, granted bail in the sum of Le 100 million each to the Principal of Fatibu Technical Junior and Secondary School and two others.
The three: Mannah Lahai, first accuse; Mohamed Kamara, second accused; and Edward Lamboi, third accused, were arraigned on five counts of corrupt transaction with agent, receiving gift for corrupt purpose, accepting advantage for public officer, obstruction of justice and conspiracy to commit a corruption offence contrary to the Anti- Corruption Act of 2008.
According to the particulars of the offence, between September 1, 2019, and September 7, 2019 in Freetown, Mannah Lahai being a supervisor of West African Examination Council (WAEC) in the ongoing 2019 Private West Africa Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at Fatibu Junior and Secondary School examination centre at Peacock Farm, Wellington, allegedly conspired with other persons unknown to accept advantage during that mathematic exam.
According to the statement of offence, the second accused Mohamed Kamara, a Business Studies teacher, allegedly accepted advantage on behalf of Mannah Lahai, the Principal of the said school. Also, the third accused, Edward Lamboi, an English teacher of the said school and a facilitator for WAEC, assaulted Musa S. Sesay, a Police Officer who was part of Anti-Corruption Commission team on assignment at the School.
After the charges were read to the accused, they pleaded not guilty to all the five charges.
During the hearing, the Lead Defense Counsel, Hindolo M. Gevao made an application for bail on behalf of the accused persons. He said that the accused will not jump bail and they have no intention to interfere with the witnesses.
Lawyer Gevao added that similar allegation will not be lay against them while they are on bail. The bail application was made pursuant to Section 79 (2&3) of the Criminal Procedures Act 1965.
The State Prosecutor, Koyevia Amara Esq. and Victor Biandoma Esq. did not object to the bail application.
Justice Cosmotina Jarrett granted the accused bail in the sum of Le 100 million each, two sureties each in like sum. The accused should surrender their travelling documents to the court and should not travel out of Freetown without the permission of court. Bail was to be approved by the Acting Master & Registrar.
The matter was adjourned to Monday September 30, 2019, for further hearing.
