NASSIT Drags Sierra Leone Agric. Business Initiative, Two Others To Court

By Janet Sesay

The National Social Security and Insurance Trust yesterday dragged the Sierra Leone Agric Business Initiative, Up Link Construction Company and Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency to court. They were brought before Magistrate Marke Ngegba of Court No.2 for failing to pay social contributions for their workers and failing to comply with the provisions of the NASSIT Act.

During proceedings, after the matter had been mentioned by the court clerk, both the Sierra Leone Agric Business Initiative and Up Link Construction Company were not present in court. This made the lawyer prosecuting the matter, T.A. Jah, to apply for bench warrant for both mangers to be brought to court.

Sharka Samuel Sannoh, Manager of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency, was present in court and the charges were read to him, to which he pleaded not guilty to the offence.

Defense Counsel A.K. Kamara made bail application on behalf of his client. He canvassed that he will not jump bail and he will be in court on every adjourned date.

They were charged to count on two counts of failing to pay NASSIT contribution and failing to comply with the provisions of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust Act No 5 of 2001.

The charge sheet states that the accused, being an Establishment and Employer respectively, under the National Social Security and Insurance Trust from 18^th February to 18^th August 2018, failed to pay social contribution and neglect to register employees with the National Social Security and Insurance Trust, notwithstanding being requested by the Trust to do so. The accused also failed to pay social security contribution for workers to the Trust within the required period.

Sharka Samuel Sannoh was granted forty million leones bail and one surety in like sum; and the surety should be resident in Freetown in the western area. Bench warrants were ordered for both managers of Sierra Leone Agric Business Initiative and Up Link Construction Company to appear in court.

The matter was adjourned to the 7^th June 2019.