Disfigured John Sarra Rejects EDSA’s NLE 250,000 As Settlement For Damages
By Aruna Momoh Kargbo
An employee of the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), John Sarra who sustained serious injuries while working for the Authority has rejected a settlement plan by EDSA which he (John Sarra) considers as a heartless compensation by EDSA.
Documents in the possession of New Age indicate that on the 8th June 2020, John Sarra was instructed by one Mr. Jorgor (Supervisor) to go to Spur Road in Freetown as there was no electricity there, up to Wilberforce in order to ensure that the no electricity issue was immediately resolved.
That having informed the substation accordingly, John Sarra dressed up in his protective gears supplied by the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) and mounted the pole to fix the problem.
“While on the pole and fixing the electrical issue, John Sarra was electrocuted by high tension voltage of electricity and was left hanging on the pole for several minutes which he sustained electrical burns to both his upper limbs and his right lower limb,” the document stated.
That after hanging on the electrical pole for several minutes and sustaining electrical burns, John Sarra was rescued and taken to the Connaught Hospital where he was attended to and treated, and he was later referred to the 34 Military Hospital.
That as a result of the seriousness of the injury and the state of John Sarra at the time of referral to the 34 Military Hospital, it was recommended that both upper limbs of Mr. Sarra must be amputated.
“As a result, John Sarra had a bilateral trans-humeral amputation which subsequently has left him with 70% disability as stated in a medical report dated 7th April 2021,” the document indicated.
In the midst of the predicament faced by the victim (John Sarra), EDSA is insisting and persisting that what they will pay as damages to Mr. Sarra is SLE250,000 which is equivalent to Two Hundred and Fifty Million in old Leones.
This amount has been considered by John Sarra as not enough given the severity of his injury which requires medical attention and operations out of Sierra Leone.
John Sarra has asked that he is paid the sum of SLE3,700,000 which is equivalent to Three Billion Seven Hundred Million in old Leones.
Head of Communications at EDSA, Sahr Nepor said that he cannot comment on the issue as it is before the court.
More on this in subsequent editions.
