Section 19, The Mines and Minerals Act, 2009

(1) No public officer shall directly or indirectly, acquireany right or interest in any mineral right and any document or transaction purporting to confer any right or interest in any such officer shall be null and void. 16 17 Power to coopt. Disclosure of interest. Annual report. Obstruction of Directors or authorised Indemnity of Minister and officers prohibited from acquiring rights, etc. (2) Subject to subsection (3), no public officer shall own or retain any shares in a company carrying on reconnaissance, exploration or mining operations, or the import, export or marketing of minerals in Sierra Leone. (3) Where an officer is at the assumption of the functions of his office, the holder of shares in such company as is mentioned in subsection (2), the officer shall divest himself from such right or interest or dispose of the shares within ninety calendar days after assumption of office. (4) An officer who contravenes this section commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not less than two thousand United States Dollars or its equivalent in leones or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding twelve months or to both such fine and imprisonment. (5) For the purposes of this section, “officer” means a public officer for the time being engaged in the administration of this