USD 21 MILLION FRAUD
…LEONE ROCK AGAIN
By Ibrahim Alusine Kamara
A recent oversight engagement by the Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Aviation with sector stakeholders has uncovered how the Government of Sierra Leone is losing millions of dollars through non-payment of Fleet levies by some mining companies amongst others, high level of corruption, mismanagement and negligence on the part of sector leaders.
A whopping amount, nearly forty million dollars, was discovered to have been lost over the years by the Sierra Leone Government due to the non-payment of fleet levies by Leone Rock Metals and other mining companies whose details will be revealed in subsequent edition.
Sierra Leone’s Maritime Laws stipulate a $ 1.20 payment for all fleets using our waters for shipment and other purposes.
But over the years, Leone Rock Metals and other companies have failed to pay a dime, resulting in massive revenue loss for the government.
Leone Rock for instance, is said to have accrued over 21 million dollars in fleet levies but still enjoyed absolute protection from stakeholders due to alleged palms greasing.
As if that was not enough, Leone Rock is also said to have signed on the 10th of March, 2023, a fraudulent agreement, according to independent investigation conducted by this medium.
The said agreement, according to our findings, was said to have been signed without recourse to the government’s laid down 1.20 dollars’ fleet levy.
It is alleged that the agreement was signed by Karlson HUANG, the General Manager of Leone Rock Metals, pegging the fleet fees at 0.05 dollars, in complete contravention of the government’s laid down 1.20 dollars.
What is even more puzzling in all of this is the fact that this is happening at a time when the government is seriously struggling to raise revenue to implement its policies and programs as catalogued in the Big 5 Game Changers.
It is no secret that Leone Rock Metals does not mean well for Sierra Leone as happenings within the institution continue to point to blatant extortion and rape of our country.
It is high time President Bio stamped his authority to save Sierra Leone from the massive exploitation by these predators in the guise of investors.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Leone Rock Metals has denied any wrongdoing by the company when contacted.