The investigation coordination department of Sierra Leaks Media Network wishes to inform its readers that, there is a delay in the publication of the Sierra Leone Consortium of Investigative Journalists (SLCIJ) funded investigation, THE ORGANIZATIONAL BUDGET SCHEME, which was scheduled for Friday 12th November 2021.
The department wishes to make it be known that the delay has nothing to do with the content of the investigation, but rather, a technical issue on the side of our English, and French editors. Readers are informed that the content of the investigation is safe, and cannot be prevented from being published.
However, the Sierra Leone Consortium of Investigative Journalists (SLCIJ), has entered into a publication agreement with three leading media houses each in Ivory Coast, Guinea, and Liberia. While we are still in talks with media houses in Sierra Leone on the exclusive right to the English publication.
THE ORGANIZATIONAL BUDGET SCHEME investigation took five journalists almost two years, to uncover a scheme on how the sub-regional group, Mano River Union (MRU), withdrew over $18,000 United States dollars for an assessment mission to Guinea in 2000, that never was.
According to documents seen by the investigation team, including leaked bank transactions, MRU was to send 16-man delegates on an Elections Assessment mission to Guinean capital Conakry, for five days, 1st – 5th October 2020.
THE ORGANIZATIONAL BUDGET SCHEME investigation revealed that the assessment mission to Guinea never happened, but out of a total of $18,680 United States dollars, that was withdrawn from two bank accounts using three cheques, only Le.65,340,000 or $6,600 United State dollars, was returned.
The investigation on THE ORGANIZATIONAL BUDGET SCHEME exposes how the monies were allocated on a paper submitted to the Rokel Commercial Bank, was the said $6,600 United States dollar returned to the account, what happens to the remaining $12,080 United States dollars, and the players behind the scheme, the 16-man delegates, and their connection.
Media house(s) in Sierra Leone, that wants exclusive publication rights to the full investigation, are kindly requested to contact the publisher of Sierra Leaks Media Network for further discussions with the consortium.
Comments