CAF approved MRI test – Chris Kamara

By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma

Sha Johnson and Chris Kamara

Bodies supervising the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) were okay with what the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) termed misappropriation of public funds, Chris Kamara has said.

Chris, the SLFA Secretary General is on trial with the SLFA President, Isha Johansson for allegedly squandering $50,000 subvention and Le24.7m sponsorship they received from CAF (Confederation of African Football) and LEOCEM.

ACC alleged the money from CAF was meant for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test, but SLFA never conducted the test and could not account for the money.

Chris, on the third day of his defence to the ACC claims, said the MRI test results for 32 Under-17 players were sent to CAF and they never raised any objections.

He said at the time, President Isha was not around and  if it were not for his timely intervention – on the plea of other SLFA members including John Keista –  the SLFA then had no funds to carry out the test in due time.

He added that the other SLFA members asked him to intervene after failed attempts to acquire loan from Ecobank.

Chris stated that Ecomed and Choitrams Hospital had asked for 12.8 million Leone and 44.2 million Leones respectively to carry out the test, but he could only loan the SLFA 19.7 million Leones from his terminal benefits and per diem from gold tree Sierra Leone limited.

“At the time, the was ninety two dollar three cent ($92.3) United States Dollars in the foreign account and there was seventy one thousand Leones six hundred and ninety four cents (Le71, 000) in the local account,” he said

Also, he said there were no cars to transport the 32 players to and from the hospitals and he had to use his car, that of Mohamed Kallon and a rented vehicle for that purpose.

Questioned whether he could authenticate the test, Chris said he does not have knowledge about the tests – save for the explanation the doctors had given him.

He said he only followed through on arrangements the President Isha had made, and delegated the responsibility to other members including the then Under-17 Coach Mohamed Kallon.

Meanwhile, Chris had wanted to tender the CAF 2012 and FIFA 2018 Constitutions, but the prosecutor, Calvin Mantsebo, objected stating that the FIFA document is not relevant to the case.

Defence lawyer Africanus Sesay withdrew the document and applied for an adjournment to tender the appropriate document, adding the document is relevant to the defence case.

The matter continues on the 23^rd November 2018.