Parliament to Vote on Suspended Auditor General Following Tribunal’s Recommendation
Written By: Edward Dictionary Caulker
The future of the suspended Auditor General, Lara Taylor Pearce, hangs in the balance as Parliament prepares to deliberate on whether to remove her from office, following recommendations from the Tribunal.
During the weekly press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Freetown on Tuesday, the Director of Public Prosecution, Osman Kanu Esq, disclosed that the Tribunal had concluded its investigation and made recommendations concerning both the Auditor General and her Deputy.
“The Tribunal has recommended the removal of the Auditor General,” Kanu informed journalists. “This recommendation will now be submitted to Parliament, where a two-thirds majority vote is required under section 137(7a)(b) to decide her fate. Meanwhile, the Deputy Auditor General’s case will be decided by the Audit Service Sierra Leone Board.”
Kanu elaborated on the grounds for the Tribunal’s decision, citing breaches of confidentiality by the suspended Auditor General during a third-party confirmation process. “As a professional Auditor, maintaining confidentiality is paramount,” Kanu asserted. “The breach of this principle triggered the inquiry and subsequent recommendations by the Tribunal.”
Lara Taylor-Pearce and her deputy, Tamba Momoh, were suspended in 2022 following allegations of professional misconduct related to interactions with third parties during a compliance audit of the Office of the President. The tribunal specifically investigated claims that they contacted hotels in Lebanon, South Africa, and The Gambia without proper authorization.
Regarding the Auditor General’s involvement with the Freetown City Council (FCC), Kanu disclosed that the matter would be referred to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for further investigation.
