Justice Francis Banks-Kamara of the High Court in Kenema on 28th May, 2024, sentenced Sheku Abdulai Kamara, finance officer of the Eastem Technical University (ETU SL in Kenema to fifteen years imprisonment or pay an alternative fine of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand New Leones (NLe 150,000.00) for misappropriation of public funds.

The Defence Counsel, Victor SS Ansumana Esq. requested the court to read the charges again to the accused Sheku Abdulal Kamara. All twenty-six (26) count charges were read out to the accused and he pleaded guilty on count one (1), two (2) and three (3) and not guilty on count four (4) to count twenty-six (26).

The Judge asked whether the prosecutor was ready to proceed in respect of count 4 through 26 which the accused pleaded not guilty to.

Adrian B. C. Samuels Esq of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) stated that the commission does not wish to proceed by leading evidence of the said counts and therefore offered no evidence on them.

According to the Hon. Justice, the act by the convict, Sheku Abdulai Kamara is considered an “educational treason and therefore, he is not only an enemy to the State but also to the individuals who were affected and by extension, even their generations yet unborn.

In his judgement, Hon. Justice Francis Banks-Kamara ordered that the convict pay back to the ACC office in Kenema the total amount misappropriated, the sum of Seventy-Five Thousand New Leones (NLe 75,000) immedely.

He is to also pay into the consolidated furid, through the court, a fine or Fifty Thousand New Leones (Le 50,000) each for counts 1, 2, and 3, a total amount of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand New Leones (Nex150,000.00) or imprisonments of five years for each count, totally a term of 15 years. The said fines to be in installments of NLe 30,000.00 on the last day of every month starting June to October, 2024. Failure by the convict to abide by the above judgement, he shall serve 15 years jail term concurrently.