Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, His Lordship Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda, has received a high-level delegation from the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for West Africa (ARINWA), during which he reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to supporting the establishment of a comprehensive Asset Recovery and Management Framework in Sierra Leone.
The delegation comprised Mr. Mor Ndiaye, Director General of Senegal’s National Office for the Recovery of Criminal Assets (ONRAC) and President of ARINWA; Madam Kadiatou Ly Sangaré, Permanent Secretary of ARINWA; and Mr. Charles Ballet, Assistant Permanent Secretary of ARINWA.
The delegation was led by the Director of Sierra Leone’s Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), Mr. David N. Borbor.
During the courtesy visit, Honourable Chief Justice Kamanda emphasized the need for a robust legal and institutional framework to deter perpetrators of financial crimes, terrorism financing, money laundering, and other transnational organized crimes.
“We must establish strong systems that not only prosecute offenders but also deprive them of the proceeds of crime. Crime should never pay,” said Honourable Chief Justice Kamanda, adding “A credible asset recovery regime is essential to ensuring accountability and protecting the integrity of our justice system.”
The Chief Justice further highlighted the importance of continuous capacity building for judicial officers, noting that judges must be equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills to effectively adjudicate increasingly complex financial crime cases.
“There is a need for both local and international training opportunities for judges and judicial officers. We must learn from other jurisdictions, understand emerging trends, and familiarize ourselves with evolving laws and best practices in asset recovery and financial crime investigations,” he stressed.
Honourable Chief Justice Kamanda also recommended the establishment of specialized Registries across West Africa to exclusively handle asset recovery and related financial crime matters.
“Specialized Registries will enable efficient case management, proper record keeping, and expeditious disposal of cases,” he noted.
Speaking on the significance of asset recovery, the Chief Justice stressed that convictions alone do not always deliver complete justice if unlawfully acquired assets remain in the possession of offenders or their associates.
He reiterated that recovering criminal assets is an important component of justice because it prevents offenders and their beneficiaries from profiting from crime.
The Chief Justice further referenced provisions in the Anti-Corruption Act that provide for asset recovery, noting that significant progress has already been made in that regard.
Explaining the purpose of the visit, ARINWA President Mr. Mor Ndiaye stated that the Network is working towards the establishment and strengthening of Asset Recovery and Management Frameworks across West Africa. He said the initiative seeks to enhance regional cooperation and secure institutional support from key stakeholders, including the Judiciary.
Mr. Ndiaye explained that ARINWA was established to facilitate collaboration among member states in the fight against money laundering, terrorism financing, corruption, and other forms of transnational organized crime.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening cooperation among institutions involved in asset recovery and reinforcing efforts aimed at combating financial crimes across Sierra Leone and the wider West African region.
For more information contact the Judiciary of Sierra Leone Communications and Public Affairs Unit or visit our website on www.judiciary.gov.sl or follow us on our social media platforms.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 29th June 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
