Post a comment 
The High Court of Sierra Leone has delivered a landmark judgement in a corruption case involving senior former officials of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), reinforcing the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen accountability in public service.
Justice Cosmotina Jarrett on Tuesday convicted and sentenced the former Executive Director of the SLRSA, Dr. Sarah Finda Bendu, and the institution’s former Procurement Manager, Mr. Victor Labour, after finding them guilty on multiple corruption-related offences linked to the misappropriation of more than Le 2 billion in public funds.
The two were charged by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) with offences including misappropriation of public funds, conspiracy, and failure to comply with procurement and financial management procedures. According to the court, the offences were committed between 2016 and 2017 and involved payments made to two clearing and forwarding agencies for services that were never rendered.
Dr. Bendu was convicted on eight counts, while Mr. Labour was convicted on six. In her judgement, Justice Jarrett described the offences as a sustained pattern of corruption spanning nearly two years, characterised by deliberate manipulation of procurement and financial processes.
The court found that Dr. Bendu, in her capacity as Executive Director and Vote Controller, played a central role by authorising unlawful disbursements of public funds. Mr. Labour, the court held, facilitated the scheme by preparing and approving documentation that enabled the diversion of the funds.
As part of their sentences, both convicts were fined and ordered to pay restitution to the state. Each was directed to pay Le 697,245,506.96 representing one-third of the total misappropriated amount within six months. In addition, both Dr. Bendu and Mr. Labour were disqualified from holding public office for a period of three years.
The case also involved Mr. Kipiatu Alghali, the head of one of the clearing and forwarding agencies implicated in the scheme. Mr. Alghali earlier pleaded guilty to his role in the matter, was fined, and ordered to refund over Le 500 million to the state.
Observers note that the case stands as one of the most significant prosecutions undertaken by the ACC, highlighting both institutional corruption risks and the consequences of abuse of public office. The matter was prosecuted under the leadership of the late Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Calvin Mantsebo, whose work on the case has been widely acknowledged as instrumental to its outcome.
The judgement has been described by legal and governance commentators as a strong signal of judicial support for anti-corruption efforts in Sierra Leone, particularly in holding senior public officials accountable for the misuse of public resources.
