Court Slams UBA Official with 40-Year Sentence in Major Corruption Case
In a landmark ruling on Monday 19th January 2026, the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court in Freetown, presided over by Honourable Justice Aiah Simeon Allieu, sentenced Fredrick Caulker, Head of Operations at the United Bank of Africa (UBA), to a total of forty (40) years’ imprisonment for corruption related offences.
The conviction followed a five-count indictment brought against Caulker, including conspiracy and misappropriation of public funds, contrary to Section 36(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 12 of 2008 as amended by Act No. 9 of 2019.
Caulker, a resident of No. 38A Taylor Street, Wellington, Freetown, was found guilty on four counts involving the misappropriation of PAYE tax payments made by the Small Holder Commercialization Agri-Business Development Project (SCADeP) to the National Revenue Authority (NRA). The court heard that he diverted several payments intended for the NRA into unauthorized accounts. One such transaction involved Le 293,749.80, which was signed off by Caulker but not deposited into the designated NRA account. Another sum of Le 169,134.29 was similarly redirected, and a larger amount of Le 1,291,623.50 was withheld following instructions from Caulker, who claimed to have received a call from the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank indicating a mistaken transfer. This amount was instead paid into an alternate account: 540 520 520 002 168. A further Le 255,725.81 was also misappropriated under similar circumstances.
Prosecution Witness Two (PW2), a banker from Commerce Mortgage Bank and former subordinate of Caulker, testified that he was instructed by Caulker to process these questionable transactions. Despite the defense’s arguments, the court found the evidence compelling on counts one through four. However, Justice Allieu acquitted Caulker on count five conspiracy citing insufficient evidence to establish that element of the offence.
For each of the four counts on which Caulker was convicted, he received a ten-year sentence, to run consecutively, totaling forty years. Additionally, the court ordered him to pay Le 1,980,233.40 into the Consolidated Revenue Fund within ninety (90) days from the date of judgment.
The Anti-Corruption Commission, established under the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008, is mandated to prevent, investigate, and prosecute corruption in public life. Its core responsibilities include receiving and investigating complaints, examining asset declarations, advising public institutions on anti-corruption measures, and initiating legal proceedings against offenders. The ACC also engages in public education and institutional reforms to foster transparency and accountability across government and private sectors.
Over the years, the ACC has recorded significant successes in combating corruption. It has recovered billions of Leones in stolen public funds, secured high-profile convictions including ministers, civil servants, and corporate executives and implemented systemic reforms in key public institutions. The Commission’s proactive strategies, such as the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS), have enhanced public awareness and institutional compliance. Its efforts have earned Sierra Leone improved rankings in global anti-corruption indices and increased public confidence in the judicial system.
