A State House official from the Chief Minister’s office, Macmond Kallon, is facing serious accusations of fraud and abuse of power after allegedly failing to fulfill a payment agreement for a vehicle and subsequently using his influence to intimidate the complainant, businessman and journalist Murtala Mohamed Kamara.

According to a letter addressed to President Julius Maada Bio, Kamara claims he sold a Mercedes Benz to Kallon in November 2024 for $3,700.

Kallon reportedly made an initial deposit of $2,000, promising to pay the remaining $1,700 by the end of the month. However, Kamara alleges Kallon has since refused to pay the balance or return the vehicle.

Kamara further claims that his attempts to resolve the matter have been met with threats and derogatory remarks from Kallon. “Despite my repeated efforts to have Macmond honor the agreement by paying the balance or returning the car for a refund, he has been unresponsive. Instead, he resorted to sending threatening messages and derogatory remarks towards me,” Kamara wrote in his letter.

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A complaint was filed with the Cyber Crime Unit at Police Headquarters, but Kamara alleges that initially, little action was taken. However, he claims that after Kallon visited the Inspector General of Police, the police response became “immediate and aggressive.”

Kamara alleges he was swiftly contacted by Amos Lansana of the Cyber Unit and the Head of CID regarding an unrelated matter. He states that he was then threatened with an arrest warrant if he failed to report to the CID. “Amos Lansana even threatened to issue an arrest warrant against me if I fail to report to the CID on Monday,” the letter details.

Kamara expresses concern over the police’s sudden escalation and questions whether it was prompted by Kallon’s visit to the Inspector General. He emphasizes that the dispute is a civil matter and not a criminal offense.

“Mr. President, this is a civil dispute, not a criminal offense. I am perplexed by the swift threat of arrest towards a senior journalist and businessman, especially when the police previously showed reluctance to act upon my complaint,” he wrote.

Kamara’s letter, copied to the Chief Minister, the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Inspector General of Police, the Human Rights Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the SLAJ President, highlights concerns about the potential abuse of power and the treatment of ordinary citizens. He calls upon President Bio to intervene and ensure justice is served.

Complaint of Misconduct and Intimidation

Statehouse
Towerhill, Freetown
Sierra Leone

Dear Mr President,

I extend warm greetings and well wishes to you. I am writing to bring a concerning issue to your attention regarding the misuse of power by certain officials and the intimidation of citizens with the help of the police force. I am aware of your commitment to discipline and upholding the rule of law, as you have demonstrated through leading by example on numerous occasions.

A concerning incident involves an official from the Chief Minister’s office, Macmond Kallon, with whom I engaged in a business transaction in good faith. In November 2024, I entered into an agreement with Macmond for the purchase of a Mercedes Benz car. He agreed to pay $3,700 for the vehicle, deposited $2,000 initially, and assured me that he would settle the remaining $1,700 by the end of the month. Despite my repeated efforts to have Macmond honor the agreement by paying the balance or returning the car for a refund, he has been unresponsive. Instead, he resorted to sending threatening messages and derogatory remarks towards me. I reported the matter to the Cyber Crime Unit at Police Headquarters, but unfortunately, little action was taken. My sole objective is to either receive the outstanding balance or have the car returned and be refunded accordingly.

Macmond adamantly refuses to return the car or fulfill his payment obligation. Strangely, the response from the Sierra Leone Police’s Cyber Unit was lackluster when I reported the cyberbullying by Macmond Kallon. However, upon Macmond’s visit to the Inspector General of Police, there was an immediate and aggressive reaction from the police. I was swiftly contacted by Amos Lansana of the Cyber Unit and the Head of CID for an unrelated matter. Amos informed me that Kallon had made an accusation against me. I clarified that I had not engaged in any form of cyberbullying or direct threats towards Macmond. Subsequently, I have been persistently contacted by the Head of CID and the Cyber Unit Supervisor. Amos Lansana even threatened to issue an arrest warrant against me if I fail to report to the CID on Monday. It is unclear whether these actions were prompted by the Inspector General of Police, especially considering the sudden escalation following Macmond’s visit. Mr. President, this is a civil dispute, not a criminal offense. I am perplexed by the swift threat of arrest towards a senior journalist and businessman, especially when the police previously showed reluctance to act upon my complaint. This raises concerns about the treatment of ordinary citizens in similar situations. Hence, I felt compelled to bring this matter to your attention, reaffirming my confidence in your commitment to justice and integrity.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Murtala Mohamed Kamara

Cc: Chief Minister
Anti-Corruption Commission
Inspector General of Police
Human Rights Commission
Office of the Ombudsman
SLAJ President