DIPLOMAT TURNS WHEELER-DEALER…Foreign Affairs Disappointed

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co,operation has now found itself in a state of disappointment and embarrassment, after it has discovered that one of its diplomat has been embroiled in financial scandal with the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce and participants who were to attend the Netherlands African Business Trade Mission between 16th January-21st 2012. Mrs. Sabainya Lamboi –Bandamoy reportedly collected the sum of Euros 8,050.00 from the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the participants and when the trip did not materialize, she refused to refund the money, despite the numerous calls and advise giving to her by close friends and relatives including the Proprietor of Taia Hotel, Mr. Sam King that she should behave in a responsible manner taking into account her status and the country.

These calls and pieces of advice seemed to have fallen on a hard rock as Mrs Sabainya Lamboi-Bandamoy continues to display characters that are akin and similar to those typical of wheeler dealers. Communications to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and international co, operation via the Sierra Leone Embassy in Brussels regarding the refund has not been complied with by Mrs. Sabainya Lamboi-Bandamoy.

Diplomatic sources in Belgium, when contacted on the phone has explained that the Sierra Leone Embassy in Brussels has cut-off all relationship with her as a result of her undiplomatic and un-official dealings with Sierra Leoneans resident in Holland and foreign nationals who are interested in doing business in Sierra Leone. “Her behavior is not only undiplomatic and unofficial, but contravenes contemporary political diplomacy and decency, very typical and full of criminality” The source explained, and went on to reveal that the Embassy in Brussels used to supply her with visa stickers and other diplomatic items, but sadly in 2011 she refused to send in returns, which among other things caused a sour relationship that resulted into a permanent disengagement between the two outfits” The Sierra Leone Honorary Consul to The Netherlands was re-aligned to the Sierra Leone Embassy in Germany, but seeing the irrationality in the diplomatic arrangement, Ambassador Stevens advised that she remained with the Embassy in Brussels as the proximity to her office is to her advantage than Germany. As a result of this rejection by the Sierra Leone Embassy in Brussels, Mrs.

Sbainya Lamboi –Bandamoy was reportedly left ajar and swinging like a pendulum until when the Foreign Affairs Ministry came to her rescue and advised that she reports consular activities directly to the Head Office in Freetown.

Sierra Leone Consul to the Netherlands

It was during this period that she initiated the concept of Trade Mission and reportedly discussed it with officials of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce who welcome it and propagated the concept to its members. It was least expected that the entire arrangement could have ended up in a “mafiasco” way Mrs. Sabainya Lamboi-Bandamoy first dodged the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co,operation, Hon. J.B.Dauda when he attempted discussing the issue with her and the embarrassment she has caused not only to the Chamber of Commerce, but also the Government she is representing in a foreign land and advised her to refund monies she collected from the Chamber, but it would appear that Hon. J.B.Dauda was speaking to somebody who has already made-up her mind not to refund a penny.

The intervention of Mr. Sam King when Police stormed his Hotel to execute the Warrant of Arrest on Mrs. Sabainya Lamboi-Bandamoy when she last visited Sierra Leone only minimized the embarrassment, but did not solve the problem as she has still not refunded the Euros 8,050.00 to the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce. Both the promise made and commitment, which she documented on a piece of paper was done to let her off the Police net and provided her the opportunity to travel back to her station in The Netherlands, where she has created for herself an artificial incommunicado and refusing to respond to telephone calls from the Sierra Leone Embassy in Brussels, Mr. Sam King who came to her rescue from the Police and from Members of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce.

The only alternative perceived to have been left for Members of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce regarding the refund of the Euros 8,050.00 is the intervention from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co,operation Hon. J.B.Dauda to use his wealth of political skills and experience to get Mrs. Sabainya Lamboi-Bandamoy refund the money. Speaking to Mr. Sam King on the phone, he said “She is not picking up my calls and not even responding to my messages, let alone get her talk to me about the money since she returned to The Netherlands” Reports state that Sierra Leoneans resident in Holland are not treating the news about the fraudulent behavior of the Honorary Consul lightly. Some, according to a member of the Holland-Sierra Leone Union have different stories to tell about the Honorary Consul.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. J.B.Dauda has returned home from an official assignment and fully aware of this sad and unfortunate development involving one of his foreign staff. It is expected that he should be able to resolve it to be best of his ability to prevent it from spreading afar.

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