By Musa Paul Feika
On Saturday 19th June, 2021, during a court proceeding at the main Law Court Building at Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown, Magistrate Isata Sellu Tucker, who presides over at the Industrial and Social Court of Justice No.2, instructed Inspector Alhaji Tegan Bangura to apprehend the Director of Solid Rock Mining Company Limited, Ambrose Bundu, and bring him to court.
This is due to an application for a bench warrant made by the complainant’s lawyer, Mr. Sesay, pursuant to Section 23 of the Criminal Procedure Act No. 32 of 1965. His application was granted.
The defendant is before the court on one count of failing to pay National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) contributions, which is contrary to Section 32 (1) (c) of the NASSIT Act No. 5 of 2001.
The charge sheet adduces that Ambrose Bundu, the Director of Solid Rock Mining Company Limited situated at No. 16 Percival Street in Freetown, being an establishment and employer under the National Social Insurance Trust (NASSIT) Act No. 5 of 2001, failed to pay national social contributions for his workers within the stipulated time.
According to the complainant’s lawyer, the amount and dues owed the Trust, for May 2019 and January 2021, is Le6,556,688.24, which is inclusive of interest and penalty of delayed payment.
The matter will come up again on the 26th June, 2021.