News

Somano Karpen

By Bampia James Bundu

Chairman and leader of the main opposition Sierra Leone Peoples’ Party, SLPP, Chief Sumano Kapen has called on the Interreligious Council in Sierra Leone to intervene and resolve the impasse that has plagued his party.

A three-day conference on religious tolerance in Sierra Leone opens today in the northern town of Makeni. Organised by the catholic-owned University of Makeni (UNIMAK), it will bring together religious leaders from across the country to look at the threat posed by religious conflicts in especially Mali and the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria, and in the Central Africa Republic, according to Rev Fr Dr Joseph Turay Vice Chancellor of the university.

By Aminata Phidelia Allie

Defence lawyer in the on-going trial of 14 soldiers, presently standing trial for alleged mutiny, has demanded that the Sierra Leone government provides legal aid for the accused persons because “it is their right as provided for in the Legal Aid Act”.

Roberts Kowa, representing the 14^th accused, Capt. Prince Sesay, was addressing the military court at Cockerill where the soldiers made their seventh appearance yesterday, April 30.

By Crispina Lois Cummings 

The Executive Director of the Center for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) says about 300 inmates at the Pademba Road prison don't have files to indicate the crimes they committed so that they can be tried.

Ibrahim Tommy told journalists on Tuesday that some of the inmates had served up to six years in prison without trial, noting that that showed a weakness in the country's criminal justice system.

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.