The Four Anti Corruption Commission indictees should surrender their traveling documents to the court, and should not travel outside the jurisdiction of Sierra Leone, without the knowledge of the court and bail to be approved by the Acting Master and Registrar.
The four indictees are the former Master and Registrar, Steven Yayah Mansaray of High Court of Sierra Leone, Richie Edwin Asgil, the former Principal Accountant of the Sierra Leone Judiciary and also formerly of Sierra Leone Police, where he served as Accountant, as well as Adel Fayah, a staff of the Sierra Leone Judiciary and Clarence Solomon Ray.
They are facing eighteen count charges ranging from Misappropriation of Public Funds running into the region of hundreds of million of Leones and Conspiracy to Commit a corruption offence, contrary to section (128) sub Section (1) Act N0.12 of the Anti Corruption Commission Act of 2008.
The State alleged that the first indictee Steven Yayah Mansaray being the Master and Registrar of the High Court of Sierra Leone, and Richie Edwin Asgil being the Principal Accountant of the Judiciary of Sierra Leone misappropriated the sum of fifteen million Leones from the judiciary account at the Bank of Sierra Leone on 15th June 2014.
It is further alleged that the two indictees also misappropriated the sum of forty four million Leones from the Judiciary of Sierra Leone account at the Bank of Sierra Leone, thereby depriving the institution of it much needed funds.
The Charge Sheet indicated that the two indictees, Steven Yayah Mansaray and Richie Edwin Asgil again misappropriated the sum of sixteen million Leone from the Judiciary account at the Bank of Sierra Leone on 17 March 2018.
Another forty five million Leones was misappropriated by both accused persons by signing a cheque, authorizing the withdrawal of the said amount from the judiciary account at the Bank of Sierra Leone, on 17th May 2016.
The third indictee, Adel Fayah being a staff of the Judiciary of Sierra Leone misappropriated the sum of twenty five million Leones from the judiciary account at the Bank of Sierra Leone on 13th August 2018.
The fourth indictee, Clearance Solomon Ray is also alleged to conspire with his co- indictees to misappropriate hunge million of Leones from the Judiciary account at the Bank of Sierra Leone.
Before the charges were put the four indictees, Counsel representing the Anti Corruption Commission, Joel Deen Tarawalie applied to the presiding Judge, Hon.Justice Simeon Allieu for the indictees to be tried by Judge alone, instead of Judge and Jury, which was granted by the court.
All the indictees pleaded not guilty to charges preferred against them, but Radcliff Jones who represented the second indictee, Richie Edwin Asgil, however canvassed the Bench to admit his Client to bail.
He said that his Client is not a flight risk and he is a responsible citizen who has worked for the Government of Sierra Leone for a considerable period of time, and would always avail himself to the court on every adjourned date.
The application for bail made by Radcliff Jones on behalf of his client, was adopted by Counsels for the third and fourth indictees, Adel Fayah and Clearance Solomon Ray.
Counsel for the State, Joel Deen Tarawalie did not object to bail and was not also prepare to proceed with the trial, on the grounds that he is yet to serve defense Counsels the relevant documents germane to the matter and witnesses were not available for their testimony.
Hon. Justice Simeon Alliue adjourned the matter to Friday 4th October this year for further hearing.
