By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah
The Public Relations Manager at the Sierra Leone Correctional Service, Assistant Superintendent Leslie Cole-Showers has confirmed to Politico that Mohamed Kamaraimba Mansaray is sick but responding to treatment, and that his condition is stable.
The officer was reacting to social media posts in recent days claiming that Kamarainba, who is serving time at the Correctional Centre in Freetown for sexual penetration of a minor, has died.
The PR manager said this is not the first time citizen journalists are spreading fake news about the death of Kamarainmba under the custody of the Sierra Leone Male Correctional Service, referencing last year in which similar news went viral on social media. “We had to debunk that false rumor, so it is the same rumor,’’ he said.
He said as an institution they do their ’’ best’’ in taking care of Kamarainmba.
Speaking about the issue of political inmates, Cole-Showers said in their estimation they don’t have any political inmates. “AS far as we are concerned, we have inmates; we don’t have any special inmates. They are all inmates,’’ he went on. He said whosoever as an inmate is sick or gets safety concerns, they will step in and address the problem.
On whether Kamarainba is admitted in a hospital, Cole-Showers said for professional and security reasons, he won’t disclose the location he is at the moment, confirming he is sick but is talking and walking.
He said sympathizers or well-wishers have the right to visit inmates, and that family and friends of Kamrainmba can book a day, among the three visiting days, to have an audience with him. “As long as you are a sympathizer, family member or friend, you are permitted to visit him,’’ Cole-Shower said.
Mohamed Kamarainba was the presidential candidate for the Alliance Democratic Party (ADP) in the 2018 General Elections.
He had denied all the charges levied against him and was sentenced to 32 years imprisonment in February this year.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (08/09/23)
