12 Million New Leones Missing at SLRSA: ACC Launches Investigation

In a startling revelation, information reaching this medium suggests that a staggering 12 million new leones (NLe 12,000,000) is reportedly missing from the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA).

If confirmed, this significant financial loss underscores the need for a complete overhaul of the system at the institution.

On September 12, 2024, the Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) Scorpion Squad issued a public notice indicating that they had raided the headquarters of SLRSA after receiving reports of the missing funds. The notice revealed that the funds in question were generated between March and August 2024. It further noted that 34 system operators were arrested and are currently assisting the ACC with investigations.

While the public notice did not specify the exact amount involved, a credible source informed this medium that the missing sum could be as high as 12 billion old leones. Such an alarming figure has likely prompted the ACC to act swiftly, suspecting that the porous systems at SLRSA may have been exploited for far longer than previously thought.

Concerns are growing that system operators might have manipulated the institution’s financial systems to their advantage, even though customers typically pay for services through the bank. This suggests that internal loopholes still allow for corruption, potentially bypassing the official payment process.

To prevent a recurrence, it is suggested that a more sophisticated system be introduced, linking SLRSA’s bank accounts to their operating systems. This would ensure that after payments are made, an automatic code is generated, preventing direct payments to staff and reducing opportunities for fraud. Given the critical state of Sierra Leone’s economy, immediate action is essential to prevent further losses.