Former Sierra Leonean official has sentence increased to seven years
2000-12-15
The Court of Appeal today (Friday) ordered a former senior immigration official of the Republic of Sierra Leone to serve four more years in jail for selling diplomatic passports.
Solomon Dominic Musa, 45, former Principal Immigration Officer of the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone, was found guilty in November last year by the District Court on one count of attempting to transfer three Sierra Leonean diplomatic passports to an ICAC undercover officer without reasonable excuse. The offence occurred on March 3, 1999.
The District Court also ordered the alternative charge alleging Musa of accepting US$540,000 from the ICAC undercover officer for providing three Sierra Leonean diplomatic passports to be left on file.
He was originally sentenced to three years' imprisonment.
The Department of Justice subsequently sought a review of the sentence. The case was heard by Mr Justice Stuart-Moore, Mr Justice Stock and Mr Justice Mayo.
In delivering its judgement, the Court of Appeal today noted that the case was a very serious one as a senior government law enforcement officer was involved.
The Court pointed out that the defendant had abused his power in issuing diplomatic passports to criminals, and could cause huge damage.
The Court also noted that such offences, if dealt with at a higher court, would invite a starting point of not less than 10 years' custodial sentence.
The Court of Appeal however had taken into account that the case was heard at the District Court and hence imposed a maximum sentence of seven years in jail.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Bernard Ryan, assisted by ICAC officer Lawrence Kam.
Solomon Dominic Musa, 45, former Principal Immigration Officer of the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone, was found guilty in November last year by the District Court on one count of attempting to transfer three Sierra Leonean diplomatic passports to an ICAC undercover officer without reasonable excuse. The offence occurred on March 3, 1999.
The District Court also ordered the alternative charge alleging Musa of accepting US$540,000 from the ICAC undercover officer for providing three Sierra Leonean diplomatic passports to be left on file.
He was originally sentenced to three years' imprisonment.
The Department of Justice subsequently sought a review of the sentence. The case was heard by Mr Justice Stuart-Moore, Mr Justice Stock and Mr Justice Mayo.
In delivering its judgement, the Court of Appeal today noted that the case was a very serious one as a senior government law enforcement officer was involved.
The Court pointed out that the defendant had abused his power in issuing diplomatic passports to criminals, and could cause huge damage.
The Court also noted that such offences, if dealt with at a higher court, would invite a starting point of not less than 10 years' custodial sentence.
The Court of Appeal however had taken into account that the case was heard at the District Court and hence imposed a maximum sentence of seven years in jail.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Bernard Ryan, assisted by ICAC officer Lawrence Kam.