By Kadijatu Bangura, Daily Scope Reporter
In a recent statement, Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, addressed allegations regarding an individual arrested in Turkey for drug-related offenses purportedly holding a Sierra Leonean diplomatic passport.
During an appearance on AYV Television’s “Wake Up Sierra Leone,” Minister Kabba clarified that his ministry has not received any formal communication from Turkish authorities confirming the individual’s nationality or passport status.
“As of today, there is no record to indicate that the arrested individual possesses a Sierra Leonean diplomatic or ordinary passport,” Minister Kabba asserted. He emphasized that the Turkish government would have communicated any such information through official diplomatic channels if the individual were indeed a Sierra Leonean citizen.
“The absence of a formal request from Turkey suggests that they were not arrested as Sierra Leoneans,” he explained. “Given the sensitivity of this matter, which falls under the UN Convention on Transnational Crime, I will not entertain claims that lack verifiable evidence.”
The minister further stated that should any evidence arise indicating the misuse of Sierra Leonean diplomatic passports, such documents would possess identifiable serial numbers and issuance dates, enabling a thorough investigation into potential irregularities.
“If it is confirmed that Sierra Leonean diplomatic passports were involved, we will conduct an inquiry to determine the source of the issue,” he assured. Minister Kabba concluded by affirming that any credible claims would be rigorously verified once formally communicated to his office.
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