By Thomas Dixon
FREETOWN, March 19, (SALONE TIMES) – Sierra Leoneans are doubting whether the current ACC Boss Francis Ben Kaifala will investigate corruption of some highly placed people in this government.
This same sentiment was re-echoed by the outgone US Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Maria Brewer on a local radio interview in which she categorically stated that for the ACC to be taken seriously, they must begin to look at corruption from within.
Early last week, the current Maritime Boss, Paul S Massaqoui was invited for corruption related offences and was released on bail but the man who is boosting about his relationship with the President and his wife is still in office while investigation by the ACC is on going.
Best practice dictates that one cannot be in office while an investigation of such nature continues because it has the tendency to inhibit the progress of the investigation.
Documents on the desk of SALONE TIMES clearly revealed that Paul Massaquoi has breached procurement processes, amounting to the tune of 2.9 Billion Leones.
That the cost for the refurbishment is Le3,150,000,000 but the awarded contract value is 2,947,320,000 for which 90% of the money had already been paid to the contractor.
That SLMA indulged in restrictive bidding instead open competitive bidding without the approval of the procurement regulator for which they violated Section 14 sub-section (3) of the procurement laws.
“SLMA failed to comply with this requirement as it could not produce any document to show that it had submitted this process and it attendant justification for the use of restricted bidding to the authority for endorsement,” NPPA stated in it evaluation document
Adding that, “equally as important is the fact that no records could be found of SLMA’s Procurement Committee, having approved the use of restrictive bidding and having given its approval to each major milestone of the process.”
Meanwhile Paul S Massaqoui has involved in what many observers have described as desperate propaganda with some news outlets, trying to spin the truth about his massive corruption at Maritime.
Details on the over Le600M software procurement to K3 Company will be published in subsequent editions.
