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The Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court in Freetown has sentenced the Head of Operations at the United Bank of Africa (UBA), Fredrick Caulker, to a total of forty (40) years’ imprisonment for corruption-related offences involving the misappropriation of public funds.
Delivering judgment at the Main Law Courts Building, Court of Appeal Judge, Honourable Justice Aiah Simeon Allieu, found Caulker guilty on four counts of misappropriation of public funds, contrary to Section 36(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 12 of 2008, as amended by the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2019.
The offences related to PAYE and withholding tax payments made by the Small Holder Commercialization Agri-Business Development Project (SCADeP) to the National Revenue Authority (NRA).
According to the prosecution, the accused, of No. 38A Taylor Street, Wellington, Freetown, abused his position as Head of Operations at UBA by diverting tax payments intended for the NRA into accounts other than the designated NRA accounts, on various dates and in various sums.
During the trial, the prosecution called eight witnesses, including a banker from Commerce Mortgage Bank.
Prosecution Witness Two (PW2), a former subordinate of the accused at UBA, testified that in November 2023 he processed several financial transactions on the instruction of Caulker. He told the court that some of the funds, including amounts of Le. 293,749.80, Le. 169,134.29, Le. 1,291,623.50, and Le. 255,725.81, were originally meant to be paid into NRA accounts but were instead redirected to other accounts following instructions from the accused.
PW2 further stated that in one instance, Caulker claimed to have received a call indicating that an initial transfer was a mistake and subsequently instructed that the funds be paid into a different account, providing specific account details.
On count five, which alleged conspiracy to commit a corruption offence, Justice Allieu held that the prosecution failed to establish the essential elements of conspiracy. The accused was therefore acquitted and discharged on that count.
However, on counts one to four, the court found Caulker guilty and sentenced him to ten (10) years’ imprisonment on each count. The judge ordered that the sentences run consecutively, resulting in a cumulative sentence of forty (40) years.
In addition to the custodial sentence, the court ordered the convict to pay Le. 1,980,233.40 into the Consolidated Revenue Fund. The amount is to be paid within ninety (90) days from the date of the judgment.
