By Saio Marrah
Justice Momoh Jah Stevens of the Court of Appeal discharged six prisoners from the Male Correctional Centre out of 237 cases before him for review on the first day of the prison court session.
22-year-old Abubakarr Turay, who pleaded guilty to the offence of fraudulent conversion by selling three bags of pepper costing Le 300,000 Old Leones, had already spent over four years and six months on remand. Justice Stevens also recommended compensation for the convict pointing out that he spent more time on remand than he would have served if convicted.
Turay told Politico that he was a storekeeper at Fire Burn in Freetown where he stole and sold the three bags of pepper. According to him, he was broke and needed money to take care of his girlfriend. He said during his four years on remand none of his relatives or the girlfriend visited him.
Abdulai Turay, facing trial for impersonation, was another man freed. According to him, he was granted bail to be guaranteed by four sureties but after fulfilling the requirement, the court officials rejected it saying he must have eight sureties.
Abdulai, who had spent over four months on remand, described the Pademba Road Correctional Centre as one of the most humiliating places noting that “while some prison officers are good, some are so uncharitable”. He said the food quality and general condition at the center is deteriorating.
Those freed promised to put up their best behavior saying they have learnt lessons from the prison and expressed gratitude to the leadership of the judiciary for embarking on the prison court initiative and setting them free.
Justice Stevens and Justice Komba Kamanda reviewed Three hundred and forty-four (344) cases at the Pademba Road Correctional Centre.
During the same session Justice Stevens convicted nine accused persons and ordered that four cases facing delay be completed within a month.
For his part Justice Kamanda granted bail to nine other people on remand, reviewing the bail conditions.
The Manager of the Legal Aid Board, Cecilia Tucker, thanked the Chief Justice and the judges of the judiciary of Sierra Leone for what she described as “upholding Human Rights, which the Legal Aid Board stands for.”
Ms. Tucker also cautioned the free convicts to go out and behave themselves in society and warned them that the Legal Aid Board only represents such people once.
According to the Director of Communications, Judiciary of Sierra Leone, Elkass Sannoh, the exercise was a continuation of the ongoing reform of the judiciary of Sierra Leone, which the Chief Justice, Babatunde Edwards committed his administration to.
He said the reforms include increasing access to justice, and to help decongest the correctional centers across the country.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (02/10/23)
