Sierra Leone charges 29 officials over Gates Foundation defrauding

Government's chief medical officer and 28 others accused of defrauding $523,000 US

The Associated Press

Posted: Mar 10, 2013 8:05 AM ET

Last Updated: Mar 10, 2013 10:13 AM ET

Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda Gates, suspended payments of $6 million US from the Gates Foundation's immunization fund to Sierra Leone over the allegations of misuse of funds. (Nick Adams/Reuters)

The head of Sierra Leone's Anti-Corruption Commission says that 29 government health officials will appear in court on corruption charges for having allegedly defrauded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's vaccine program.

Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara told The Associated Press that the government's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kisito Sheku Daoh, six other medical doctors and 22 health officials are charged with defrauding the Gates Foundation's Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization Fund of $523,000 US. He said all those charged are out on bail and scheduled to appear in court on March 18.

The Gates Foundation's immunization fund has suspended payments of $6 million to Sierra Leone over the allegations of misuse of funds.

The immunization fund has disbursed more than $27 million to Sierra Leone since 2001.

According to the foundation website, the foundation has committed $1.5 billion to the GAVI alliance for expanding childhood immunization.

With files from CBC News

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