Senior investigator of Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), Joseph Bockarie Noah, who doubles as first prosecution witness in the ongoing Hajj-gate trial at the Freetown High Court presided over by Justice Reginald Fynn, has tendered exhibits relating to management of the 2017.

Hajj accounts. Led in evidence by the ACC prosecutor, Matsebo, the witness tendered various documents which include, deposit slips showing proof of payment into the account, withdrawal slips of funds by cross section of Hajj committee and letters of authorization of payment from the office of the former Vice President, Victor Bockarie Foh.

The investigator also tendered correspondences of diverse dates between June and August 2017, relating to management of the Hajj fund of which, the then Minister of Social Welfare Gender and Children Affairs, Secretary to the Office of the Vice President, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development were among.

Though, the exhibits were objected to by the defence counsel, since they were not served on them on time by the prosecutor, hence, could not peruse them properly, they were yet adopted by the court

He continues that, the committee also operated two sets of bank accounts including the Leones and United State Dollars Account.

Testifying in an open court, Noah said, on Wednesday 26th September, 2018, he was instructed by the Director of Investigation of the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the 2017 Hajj corruption scam. and he commenced his investigation by giving notices to the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Ecobank and the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children Affairs, relating to management of the 2017 Hajj accounts,

He said, he later received copies of bank statements and deposit slips made by the first accused person, Sheka Sahid Tarwally (1st accused) into the various bank accounts.
At this stage, the matter was adjourned to Friday 28th September, 2018 for further evidence by the first prosecution witness.

The ACC indictees are Sheka Sahid Tarwallya (1st accused) Victor Bockarie Foh (2nd accused), Minkailu Mansaray (3rd accused), Mohamed Alie Bah (4th accused), Ibrahim Fackeh Conteh (5th accused) and Abu Bakarr Carew (6th accused, former Permanent Secretary Ministry of Social Welfare).

They were indicted on eight counts of corruption charges ranging from conspiracy to commit a corruption, misappropriation of public funds, engaging in a project without prior planning, knowingly misleading the commission and willfully failing to comply with the applicable procedure and guidelines relating to the management of funds.