Freetown — Indicted former Ombudsman of Sierra Leone was yesterday released on bail by Justice Mary Sey of the High Court after his brief surprising appearance at the court.

Francis Gabiddon was released on a Le 200 million bail plus two sureties.

He is yet to enter into any plea while his charges were not read in court and the matter has been adjourned to Tuesday 15 July 2008.

It could be recalled that Gabiddon was earlier reported to be on the run after failing to appear in court last Friday before Justice Sey to defend a 168-count indictment by the Anti-Corruption Commission ACC) for allegedly misappropriating public funds while in office.

A release from ACC dated 11th July 2008 stated that a bench warrant for his arrest for prosecution has been successfully applied for and the police, immigration and Office of National Security have been alerted of his unknown location.

He was first arrested on Thursday April 17 2008 by the police on the orders of ACC to answer charges of misappropriation of public funds during his five years of stewardship.

Gabbidon was alleged to have misappropriated public funds entrusted to him by falsely representing that certain individuals were employed by the Office of the Ombudsman in various capacities between 2001 and 2007.

Gabbidon was appointed as Sierra Leone's first Ombudsman in 2000 by the outgone Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) government.