PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Sierra Leone Presidential candidate and former CEO of Sierra Rutile John Sisay has denied allegations that he was involved in bribery to secure mining licences in the African nation.

Reports emerged this week alleging that mineral sands miner Iluka had uncovered suspected bribe payments by Sisay and London-listed Sierra Rutile prior to Iluka acquiring the company in a A$375-million transaction in December last year.

Iluka chairperson Greg Martin in April alluded to the alleged bribery, saying that a post-acquisition review of Sierra Rutile had uncovered some aspects of pre-acquisition conduct by the company that were “inconsistent” with Iluka’s code of conduct, and that these matters had been referred to authorities in the UK and Sierra Leone.

Sisay in a statement on Friday said that the allegations lodged against him in media articles were false, and that the issue had been handed over to his legal representatives.

Sisay furthermore said that as CEO of an Aim-listed company, both he and his board had operated in compliance with the “highest ethical standards at all times and in full compliance with Aim rules, standards and regulations”.

“At no stage whilst CEO of Sierra Rutile did I authorise improper payments of any kind to any Sierra Leone government officials for any reason. Moreover, Sierra Rutile operated in accordance with government standards and all major decisions including any around the issues specified in the Sydney Morning Herald were approved by the board of Sierra Rutile,” he said.

“I categorically deny the allegation that I oversaw the payments of bribes, whether in the form of payment of travel costs or otherwise, in order to secure mining licences.”

Sisay said that at no time since Iluka’s acquisition of Sierra Rutile had the Australian company’s accountants or lawyers raised issues of concern regarding payments made by Sierra Rutile, adding that the issue was first brought to his attention by media articles.

“From the timing of the publication of these false allegations, I believe it is clear that the intended effect is to influence the upcoming party leadership elections and interfere with the proper democratic process. It will not work. I trust the people of Sierra Leone to be far too smart and proud to let foreign outside influences impact on their vote,” Sisay said.