The lead Prosecution Witness (PW1) for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Joseph Bockarie Noah, told the Freetown High Court No.1 today (Thursday 24 March 2022) that based on the records, Dr Samura Kamara was not serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs when financial transactions for the renovation of the country’s Chancery building in New York took place. 

According to statements available to the court, Dr Samura Kamara ceased to be Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2017 and records show that most of the transactions took place in 2019 when Alie Kabbah was Minister of Foreign Affairs.

During cross-examination of PW1, the lawyer for the fourth accused person Ady Macauley confirmed to the court that he had received one of the two documents that were requested by the defense team. 

The document is the bank statement of the private company opened by the former Sierra Leone Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Alie Kabbah, who was previously the Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

Lawyer Ady Macaulay also cross-examined the witness in relation to the date when the account was opened and on several transactions that took place. 

The matter was adjourned to today (Friday 25 March 2022).