Isha Johansen, a CAF Executive Committee member and the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Secretary General Chris Kamara were both released on same bail condition amounting to some US$130,000 after they pleaded not guilty to corruption-related charges in a Freetown high court on Monday.
The SLFA boss who also doubles as the World football governing body, FIFA sub-committee member and her Secretary General were both set aside from their respective positions at the SLFA following the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) indictment.
Presiding judge, Justice Reginald Fynn adjourned the case until Wednesday 1st November 2017. The duo was also asked to surrender their passports to the court.
Johansen and Kamara were originally indicted on six-count charges but the ACC commissioner Ade Macauley, the leading prosecutor in court, has increased the charges.
The FC Johansen owner was handed seven counts of abuse of office and three joint counts with Kamara, who received only one separate count charge.
The charges related to alleged misappropriation of donor and public funds, conspiracy to commit corruption offence and abuse of office.
Johansen pleaded not guilty to each of the counts read in the well-attended court.
All Johansen’s individual charges relate to SLFA funds she allegedly used on several occasions to pay for travel expenses for her personal assistant Mohamed Ola Marah, who is not an employee of the football body.
Two of the three joint charges relate to alleged misappropriation of $50,000 given to the SLFA by the Confederation of African Football to cover costs relating to MRI tests for 30 players in the country’s Under-17 team.
In September 2016, Johansen was arrested for questioning under Operation Thunderbolt” which aims to “rout and bring to justice” people alleged to have been involved in corrupt acts and have been under the watch of the anti-graft agency.
Johansen’s first four-year term expired on Thursday, August 3, 2017.
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