AYV News, July 7, 2026
Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, Komba Kamanda, has reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to strengthening the country’s legal and institutional response to financial crimes, terrorism financing, money laundering, and other forms of transnational organized crime.
The assurance was given on 25 June 2026 when the Chief Justice received a high-level delegation from the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for West Africa at his Chambers on Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown.
The meeting focused on advancing efforts to establish a comprehensive Asset Recovery and Management Framework for Sierra Leone, aimed at enhancing the country’s ability to trace, recover, confiscate, and manage proceeds of crime while strengthening transparency and accountability.
The ARINWA delegation was led by the Director of Sierra Leone’s Financial Intelligence Agency, David N. Borbor, and included ARINWA President and Director General of Senegal’s National Office for the Recovery of Criminal Assets, Mor Ndiaye, Permanent Secretary Kadiatou Ly Sangaré, and Assistant Permanent Secretary Charles Ballet.
Addressing the delegation, Chief Justice Kamandastressed the importance of strengthening legal mechanisms that not only facilitate the successful prosecution of offenders but also deprive criminals of the financial gains derived from illegal activities.
He described an effective asset recovery regime as a critical pillar in the fight against corruption, organized crime, money laundering, terrorism financing, and illicit financial flows.
“Crime should never pay,” the Chief Justice declared, emphasizing that a credible asset recovery framework is essential to promoting accountability, strengthening public confidence in the justice system, and safeguarding the integrity of national institutions.
He further noted that effective asset recovery serves as a powerful deterrent to criminal activity while reinforcing transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. According to him, strengthening the legal framework for tracing, confiscating, and managing criminal assets is vital to protecting Sierra Leone’s economy and governance systems from exploitation by criminal networks.
The visit by the ARINWA delegation forms part of broader regional efforts to deepen cooperation among West African countries in tracing, recovering, and managing assets obtained through criminal activities. The collaboration is expected to improve intelligence sharing, strengthen institutional capacity, and enhance coordinated responses to cross-border financial crimes.
The engagement also highlights Sierra Leone’s continued commitment to aligning its legal and judicial systems with international best practices in asset recovery and financial crime prevention while reinforcing partnerships with regional institutions working to combat organised crime across West Africa.
