By Ragan M Conteh

The recovery of some stolen monies by the Public Account Committee (PAC) in Parliament headed by Hon Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, is gaining momentum.

Since the PAC commenced work few months ago billions have been recovered from MDAs and other private businesses that default tax payment.

The Committee has gone far that, on Wednesday 4th August 2024, it ordered the Union Trust Bank (UTB) to refund and disburse four hundred and sixty thousand leones (NLe460,000) into Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA)’s account by Friday today.

Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh made the order on Wednesday 4th September, 2024 at the New Administrative Building in the House of Parliament when the committee was investigating queries raised in 2021 and 2022 Auditor General’s report.

Hon Tawa further ordered for evidence of payment to be made available before the committee.

The ruling, Hon. Tawa Conteh, said it is a lesson for both Union Trust Bank (UTB) and Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) to monitor  workers and ensure that they do their work.

Without prejudice to the Deputy Speaker’s ruling, the opposition leader 2, Hon. Aaron Aruna Koroma, who is also member of the committee, cited that the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA) talked of gross negligence of duty punishable.

Hon. Koroma further cited section 122 of the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA) for which SLRSA should consider in taking an action as provided by the Act.

According to the Act , if a voter controller of a budgetary agency fails to discharge his/her duty or responsibility he has committed an offence and should be liable on  summary conviction, stressing that the government has lost plenty money.

He urged both institutions to do their tasks they have been paid for.

According to the auditors from Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL), Union Trust Bank (UTB) admitted that the aforesaid amount was deposited into SLRSA’s account, but it was disheartening that the bank could not account for the said amount of money.

According to representative from Bank, SLRSA’s Mohamed Conteh, was depositing monies into the SLRSA account which the bank cannot account for.

According to the committee chairman, Hon. Tawa Conteh Union Trust Bank defence in respective of the money SLRSA was that a staff from SLRSA , Mohamed Conteh was depositing money into the bank on behalf of SLRSA and the bank requested for SLRSA to aid the police with  the investigation regarding the misappropriation, but SLRSA was interesting in the fact that the bank acknowledged receiving the money, but it was not account for.

Hon. Tawa Conteh further ordered the Director General of SLRSA to deduct eleven thousand Leones Nle110, 000 from his salary within two months period.

The Deputy Speaker instructed the Director General of SLRSA to demote him and asked to be suspended for two weeks.