The High Court of Sierra Leone Holden at Kenema, presided over by the Hon. Justice Aggrey Aruna has sentenced Abdul Karim Kargbo, High Court Registrar in Kenema, to pay a fine of Thirty Million (Old) Leones, instantly or face three years imprisonment.

Director of Public Education and Outreach at the ACC, Patrick Sandi said this follows his conviction on two counts of Misappropriation of Public Revenue, contrary to Section 36(2), and two counts of Conspiracy to Commit a Corruption Offence, contrary to Section 128(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 12 of 2008, as amended by the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Act No.9 of 2019.

Between March 1, 2019 and September 30, 2019, Abdul Karim Kargbo conspired to misappropriate separately the sum of Thirty Million (Old) Leones (Le 30,000,000) payable to the National Revenue Authority (NRA) as court fines in respect of two convicted persons, Abubakarr Sidique Turay and Mathew Amara Sesay.

Hon. Justice Aggrey Aruna convicted Abdul Karim Kargbo on all four counts and fined him Thirty Million (Old) Leones (Le 30, 000,000) on each count, to run concurrently.

Meanwhile, the other accused persons; Peter Mohamed Kamara, Umaru Tarawally and Ansu Sombo were acquitted and discharged.

In that regard, the Commission reiterates its call on Public Officers who are in control of Public Resources to comply with laid down laws and procedures in the handling of same.

The Commission was represented by Lawyer N.B.E Davies whilst the convict was represented Lawyers Francis Gbaya and Abdul Karim Koroma.