Approximately US$1.5million in tax payments illegally diverted from the treasury have been recovered by the Sierra Leone's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

This recovered fund, according to Francis Kailafa, Chair of the Commission represents a fraction of what was illegally diverted from the National Revenue Authority (NRA) through illegal transactions done in EcoBank in Freetown.

Over NLe34 million was found to have been so diverted from the account of the NRA in the bank. The commission, he said, is in talks with the Bank to refund all that has been diverted through it by the fraudsters. Francis Kaifala disclosed that an official of the bank in Freetown – one Salim Mansaray, fingered as the culprit behind the illegal transaction has been apprehended having been repatriated to Sierra Leone from Dubai where he fled after the lid was blown on his crime.

'We have not only (yet) recovered the full stolen amount but the commission has also cleared the personal accounts, of the culprit which has over NLe1 million, leaving him bankrupt. He has been charged and has pleaded guilty to various corruption and money laundering offenses.'

Eco Bank, in claiming responsibility has commenced the refund of the money to the commission for onward transmission to the National Revenue Authority (NRA) where it was meant for. Consequently, the bank, according to the ACC, has begun to refund the monies. The first tranche is the 1.5 million US dollar tranche which he proudly displayed to media men at the Integrity House office of the commission last week.

The public disclosure according to Kaifala becomes necessary for the people of Sierra Leone to know that the commission is seriously tackling corruption in accordance with his mandate.