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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.
When the ACC started that method of publicly disgracing corrupt individuals, I can recalled then the public bashed at the institution. That’ll have been a better way to combat corrupt in the society. What do you expect the institution to do? When they do anything people must say bad about them. We all should have appreciated the ACC at that time to continue that move 👍
Anti _corruption need to treat all corruption case’s the same no matter which level of office that you occupied we the people of this country are tired of this corruption thing this guys don’t even have this country at heart we trust them with public offices they are there embezzleing tax payers money we the people of this country are calling on the president to take actions against this public figures thy are really bad example in this Government killing the effort of the president
Ben is a disgrace to the justice system
Lawyer Marsh is right. No one should be above the law. The same public shame the teachers received should be applied to the Government officials too. After all,Teachers are also public officials. I suggest the same public shame for all those involved in the corruption cases and then we will have a full confidence in the corruption commission and the Justice system.
On the other hand,”All animals are equal but some are more equal than others”
Trust me it’s the fact
This country na mess
As far as you are SLPP ACC will defend you think about the rice case what about former chief minister and even the first lady ACC refuse to prosecute her instead he said that investigation should start from former first lady.you see how ACC only investigate people who are not SLPP..But the truth will prevail and as far as ACC refuse to prosecute them God will continue to disgrace them.
No justice in s/l
When the people of a nation speaks partisan and not civil justices and truth fly away fast.