UBA Executive Sentenced to 40 Years for Diverting Public Tax Funds

Freetown, Sierra Leone – In a landmark ruling underscoring a stringent stance against financial corruption, a High Court judge has sentenced Frederick Caulker, the Head of Operations at United Bank for Africa (UBA) Sierra Leone, to 40 years imprisonment for misappropriating public tax revenue.

Justice Aiah Simeon Allieu of the Anti-Corruption Division presided over the case, finding Caulker guilty on four counts of misappropriating public funds. The charges violated Section 36(1) of Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Act. The court acquitted him on a separate fifth count of conspiracy due to insufficient evidence.

The Scheme: Diverting Tax Payments

The conviction relates to a scheme where Caulker abused his authority to redirect tax payments. The funds, comprising Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) and withholding taxes, were intended for the National Revenue Authority (NRA) from the Small Holder Commercialization Agri-Business Development Project (SCADeP).

Evidence presented by the prosecution detailed how Caulker instructed subordinates to transfer specific sums—totaling over Le 1.9 million—away from designated government accounts into other accounts. In one instance, he allegedly claimed a transfer was erroneous and provided alternative account details to redirect the money.

Trial and Sentencing

During the trial, the prosecution called eight witnesses, including a former UBA subordinate of Caulker’s who testified to executing the fraudulent transfers on the defendant’s orders.

Justice Allieu handed down a sentence of 10 years imprisonment for each of the four proven counts. He ordered the sentences to run **consecutively**, culminating in the 40-year total—a notably severe penalty intended to serve as a powerful deterrent.

In addition to the prison term, the court mandated Caulker to repay the full sum of Le 1,980,233.40 to the Consolidated Revenue Fund within 90 days.

A Signal to the Financial Sector

This high-profile sentencing sends a clear message about the serious consequences of corruption and breach of trust within Sierra Leone’s financial system. It highlights the ongoing efforts of the country’s anti-corruption institutions to hold even senior banking officials accountable for the diversion of public resources.