News

By Septimus Senessie in Kono

A 12-year-old boy, Amadu Barrie has allegedly shot and seriously wounded his 10-year-old sister, Mabinty Barrie and one Issah Fofana, 9, with a pistol belonging to one Solomon Fillie at 51 Yardu Road in Koidu Town.

Mabinty’s case was very severe with her left arm badly wounded by the bullets and was transferred to the Emergency Hospital in Freetown, while Issah Fofana was discharged on the following day from the Koidu government hospital.

By Mustapha Sesay

A local human rights organisation, Prison Watch says “the presidential prerogative of mercy completely marginalised female prisoners as only 4 of them were pardoned" to mark this year's independence.

Its director, Mambu Feika, told journalists in Freetown that there were over 100 female inmates countrywide, “therefore it was unfathomable for only 4 of them to be released while over 100 of their male counterparts were pardoned”.

By Bampia James Bundu

Chairman of the National Advocacy Coalition on Extractives, NACE, Dr. Olagide Mustapha Thomas has revealed that by 2020 Sierra Leone will get about 17% of its Gross Domestic Product from the oil and gas industry.

By Mustapha Sesay

A man believed to be in his mid-20s has been electrocuted around the PZ business area in central Freetown.

Musa Kamara met his untimely death at around 2:00 pm yesterday.

An eye-witness told Politico that they had gone together for the Zhurr prayer at 2 pm at the back of Super Snap Photo Studios at PZ. “I finished the prayer before him so I left him behind”, Alhaji Jalloh explained.

Koroma supporter

Probably the clearest indication yet that the succession question in the ruling All People’s Congress is far from settled, emerged at an official commissioning ceremony of the Regent-Grafton Road on Saturday.

The Chief of Defence Staff of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces has told Politico that four soldiers arrested in August last year on allegations of mutiny have been freed from the Pademba Road prison.

Maj Gen Samuel Omar Williams said they were released because "there was no evidence against them" hence no charges pressed in court.

They were part of a group of soldiers and an officer 14 of whom are currently facing a military court, or Court Martial.

He said they would continue their service in the army.

By Septimus Senessie in Kono

Some residents of Saqueetown, one of the mining affected communities now relocated to a   new site called Benghazi, have refused to occupy the new houses constructed by OCTEA Diamond Mining Koidu Ltd because they have cracks in them.