Sierra Leone’s anti-corruption fight has reignited concerns over unequal justice, with contrasting treatment of teachers and government officials embroiled in scandals.

This week, high-profile investigations into two separate cases shook the nation. On Friday, the Finance Ministry revealed alleged embezzlement of 6.5 billion Leones (US$270,000) by ministry staff, including Deputy Director of Budget Jacob Tenga Senessie, allegedly diverted to a fake account.

Adding fuel to the fire, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) confirmed Sunday it was investigating Parliament Clerk Hon. Paran Umar Tarawally and his wife, Abibatu, over allegations of her ghost employment and salary collection.

These developments come against the backdrop of a 2019 incident where four teachers caught in exam malpractice were publicly paraded in handcuffs with placards at the iconic Cotton Tree, facing jeers and humiliation. Lawyer Augustine Sorie-Sengbe Marrah, while condemning the teachers’ alleged actions, criticized the unequal treatment:

“We scapegoat our weakest and our most powerless and let the high and mighty negotiate their wrongs ensconced in air-conditioned offices,” he stated, lamenting that the teachers weren’t offered the chance to repay before public shaming.

Marrah, son of two teachers, expressed the belief they could have redeemed themselves through financial restitution, highlighting the lack of similar punitive measures against high-ranking officials facing corruption charges.

This disparity in handling alleged crimes, Marrah argues, reflects a deeply ingrained selectivity in Sierra Leone’s justice system, where power and influence shield the elite from public scrutiny and harsh consequences.

The contrast between the public shaming of low-level figures and the ongoing investigations against seemingly privileged individuals has sparked debates about systemic bias and the true effectiveness of Sierra Leone’s anti-corruption efforts.