Cherno Omar Barry, who previously served as the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, has provided testimony as the eleventh prosecution witness (PW11) in the current economic crimes trial concerning three senior health officials at the High Court.
The individuals facing accusations are Muhammadou Lamin Jaiteh, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health; Balla Kandeh, Programme Manager of the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP); and Omar Malleh Ceesay, Executive Director of HePDO. They are charged with 18 criminal offences, which include Official Corruption, Disobedience of Statutory Duty, Conspiracy, Economic Crimes, Forgery, and Theft.
During his testimony, Barry, a resident of Brusubi Phase 1, affirmed that he identified the accused individuals. He characterised Jaiteh as the person who took over his position at the Ministry of Health, and pointed out Kandeh as the leader of the malaria program. He also recognised his acquaintance with the third accused, Ceesay.
Barry detailed the function of the Ministry of Health, highlighting its duty as the guardian of public health. He emphasised the importance of the Global Fund as a vital collaborator, especially in initiatives concerning tobacco control, drug prevention, and the fight against malaria. Barry noted that the Global Fund backed malaria prevention initiatives in 2018, resulting in the signing of an agreement that same year.
When enquired about the signatory of the agreement, Barry affirmed that he signed it in his role as Permanent Secretary at that time. A.M. Yusuf, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), submitted the document to the accused for verification, following which Barry confirmed its authenticity.
Yusuf then moved to submit the agreement as evidence, a request that met with no opposition from defence attorney L.S. Camara. The presiding judge, Justice Jaiteh, accepted the document into evidence, designating it as Exhibit P22, consisting of 27 pages.
During cross-examination conducted by defence counsel L.S. Camara, Barry was questioned about whether he had previously given a statement regarding the case. He affirmed that he had and mentioned that he would be capable of identifying it. After receiving the statement, Barry confirmed its authenticity. Camara subsequently sought to have the statement accepted as evidence, a request that the prosecution did not oppose. The judge accepted the statement as evidence, designating it as Exhibit D4.
After this, Camara stated that he had no additional questions for the witness, and the prosecution similarly opted not to re-examine him. Justice Jaiteh concluded the proceedings for Barry, discharging him from the witness stand. The case is now adjourned until March 5, 2025, at 10:00 AM, when the twelfth prosecution witness will provide their testimony.
