By: Shiaka Kamara, Public Education Officer, ACC
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has engaged and admonished the Kissy Police Division as part of its outreach prevention activities through public enlightenment. This engagement which was held at the Station, Kissy, Freetown on the 4th March 2024, had its leadership and officers present effectively participated.
Making his statement, Head, Public Education Unit, Michael Sesay noted that the Commission recognizes that recurring reports and both local and international assessments including the recent Afro-Barometer, has rated the Police unfavorably. He said this is a serious call for concern, considering their critically important role and mandate. He emphasized that, this is what informs the engagement to enlighten, support and endear them to imbibe the values of integrity in the conduct of their duties.
He dilated on the operations of the Commission, including its recent activities, and encouraged them to support the work of the ACC by most importantly doing their work as the law exactly instructs as law enforcement officers.
Assistant Prosecutor, ACC, Georgina C. M. Vincent Esq. highlighted some offences in the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 (as amended in 2019), which includes abuse of office, abuse of position, soliciting or accepting bribes, gifts among others.
She disclosed that these offences attract punitive sanctions upon conviction, including a fine of not less than Fifty (50) Thousand (New) Leones, or not less than 5 years imprisonment or both.
Senior Public Education officer Christiana Jusu whilst admonishing the police officers, encouraged them not just to eschew corruption and corrupt practices, but equally informed that it is their civic responsibility to report any suspected act of corruption within our outside the precinct of their work. “You can make report to the ACC by visiting any of our offices in Freetown or the regions in Bo, Makeni, Kenema or Port Loko, or call our toll free lines of 077985895/077986986”, she disclosed.
Questions and answers session climaxed the event and equally brought it to closure, as the officers reaffirmed their commitment to the fight against corruption and promised to do their job within the confines of the law.
