By Musa Paul Feika
Justice Casmotina Jarett , one of the High Court Judges of Sierra Leone, yesterday granted one hundred million Leones (Le100,000,000) bail with two sureties each in like sum to one Mannah Lahai, Principal of the Fatibu Technical Junior and Senior Secondary schools and two others, for allegedly involving in examination malpractice during this year`s private West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) at Peacock Farm, Wellington in the east of Freetown.
The bail condition furthered that each of the two sureties must submit their travelling documents to the court; that each of the sureties must not travel out of the jurisdiction and that bail must be approved by the Acting Master and Registrar.
Bail was granted after the led Defense Counsel, Hindolo M. Gevao made an application of behalf of the accused persons citing section 79 (2) and (3) of the Criminal Procedure Act No. 32 of 1965.
When the charge sheet was read to them, all of the accused persons pleaded not guilty of the offences that were levied against them.
The accused persons were before the court on five count charges of corrupt transactions with agent, contrary to section 39 (1) (b) of the Anti Corruption Act of No 12 of 2008; conspiracy to commit corruption offence, contrary to section 128 of the Anti Corruption Act of 2008; obstruction of justice, receiving gift for corrupt purpose and other related offences, all contrary to the Anti Corruption Act No. 5 of 2008.
The court detail stated that on 7th September 2019, Mohamed Kamara of No. 23 Consider Lane, Calaba Town, accepted advantage on behalf of Mannah Lahai, Principal of Fatibu Technical Junior and Senior Secondary Schools at Peacock Farm.
The court detail further disclosed that Edward Lamboi at No. 5 Magnus Street on 7th September 2019 at Fatibu Technical Junior and Senior Secondary School at Peacock Farm, Wellington in Freetown, without lawful excuse, assaulted one Musa S. Sesay, a public officer who was part of the Anti Corruption team on assignment at the Fatibu Technical Junior and Senior secondary school at Peacock Farm.
The matter was adjourned to 30th September, 2019.