The former Ombudsman of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Francis O. Gabbidon, was Tuesday 9th June 2009, found guilty on 164 count charges relating to the misappropriation of public funds, by Justice Mary Sey.

Mr. Francis O. Gabbidon was charged with 168 count charges, but Justice Sey said she will not comment on the remaining four count charges.

When Mr. Gabbidon was making his plea for mitigation, he apologized for the crime which he has committed, and asked the judge to take into consideration the suffering his 98 years old mother will go through upon hearing that her son is in prison.

Lawyer Francis Gabbidon’s Defense Lawyer appealed that the judge exercise restraint not to give his client a custodial sentence, but to give an alternative sentence because of his age.

In passing her sentence, Justice Mary Sey said she found the accused guilty on 164 count charges and that he should pay the sum of Three Hundred Thousand Leones for each count, with the total amount of Forty – Nine Million Two Hundred Thousand Leones.

She also ordered that Mr. Gabbidon pay the sum of Sixty Eight Million Eight Hundred and Ninety Three Thousand Three Hundred and Ten Cent to the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) within a period of 14 days.