FREETOWN: Isha Johansen, one of the most high-profile female sports officials in Africa, has pleaded not guilty to corruption-related charges in a Freetown high court.

The BBC has reported she attended court with Christopher Kamara, who also pleaded not guilty to the charges brought by Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission. They were released on $54,000 bail by Judge Justice Reginald Fynn and agreed to surrender their passports.

Last week both were set aside from their respective positions as Sierra Leone FA (SLFA) president and secretary general.

The two officials were originally indicted on six-count charges but ACC commissioner Ade Macauley, the leading prosecutor in court, has increased these.

Johansen faces seven counts on abuse of office and three joint counts with Kamara, who received only one separate count charge. The charges relate to alleged misappropriation of donor and public funds, conspiracy to commit corruption offence and abuse of office.

All Johansen’s individual charges relate to SLFA funds she allegedly used on several occasions to pay for travel expenses for her personal assistant Mohamed Ola Marah, who is not an employee of the football body.

Two of the three joint charges relate to alleged misappropriation of $50,000 given to the SLFA by the Confederation of African Football to cover costs relating to MRI tests for 30 players in the country’s Under-17 team.

##############