By Musa Paul Feika
Magistrate Hannah Bonnie, the Presiding Magistrate of the Industrial and Social Division of the High Court on Siaka Steven Street in Freetown has given a three (3) months ultimatum to the Chairman of the Western Area Rural District Council (WARDC), Kasho J. Holland Cole, to pay the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) contributions for his employees or he faces three months imprisonment.
The WARDC Chairman, on Saturday 21st March 2020, appeared at the Industrial Court presided over by Magistrate Hannah Bonnie on one count charge of failing to pay NASSIT contribution, contrary to Section 32 (1) of the National Social and Insurance Trust Act No. 5 of 2001.
The charge sheet adduces that, Kasho. J. Holland Cole, being an employer on diverse dates between January 2015 and May 2018 in Waterloo Western Area Rural District, in the Freetown Judicial District of the Republic of Sierra Leone, did fail to pay NASSIT contributions for his workers within a stipulated period.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges read against him.
Defense Counsel, D. J. Lavally, prayed to the court to give his client a reasonable time, noting that he is willing and ready to pay the said sum within three months.
The defense`s application was granted by the Magistrate, who later ordered that the defendant honours his obligation between April and June 2020, failing which, he will be sentenced to three months imprisonment.
Mr. Jayah, representing the applicant, NASSIT, stated that the available records of the said establishment revealed that the WARDC Chairman, on 21st November 2018, was indebted to the Trust the sum of Le87, 873, 423.33(Eighty seven million, eight hundred and seventy three, four hundred and twenty three Leones).
The outstanding amount, the NASSIT lawyer added, has attracted interest and penalty payment arrears of contribution from January 2015 to May 2018. According to him, it is Le87, 879,423.33, interest for delayed payment in accordance with Section 27 of the NASSIT Act No. 5 of 2001 is Le 32,988,526.72. The penalty charged payment, in accordance with the same Section 27 of the NASSIT Act No. 5 of 2001, is Le.12,954,751.27 all amounting to Le132,954.751.77.
The defendant is still on bail, and the matter was adjourned to 28th March 2020.