News

By Joseph Lamin Kamara

The first convicted war criminal eligible for Conditional Early Release by the Residual Special Courts for Sierra Leone (RSCSL) Thursday begged for acceptance back into society.

Moinina Fofana was sentenced to 15 years in jail as part of the trial of the people who bear the greatest responsibility for serious violations of international laws and Sierra Leonean law during the country`s civil war. He was flown in to the country early in the day, after his appeal for early release was approved last year.

By Mustapha Kamara Jnr

The National Ebola Response Centre (NERC) has casted doubt on the possibility of re-opening schools at the end of this month.

NERC`s chief executive officer Palo Conteh said schools would not be safe for children now as the country was still recording new confirmed cases.

Just last month the government announced it was getting ready to reopen schools on March 30, after realising a considerable success in the battle against a disease that has killed over 3000 people in the country.

By Mustapha Sesay

The main opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) finally laid to rest the remains of its former spokesman and Publicity Secretary Musa Tamba Sam on Monday, amidst accusations of selective burial policy implemented by the National Ebola Response Center (NERC).

Tamba Sam was buried at the Ascension Town Cemetery in Freetown following his death from a protracted illness earlier last week.

By Allieu Sahid Tunkara

Private Tamba Sheku, who is standing trial for alleged mutiny with 12 other accused persons at the court martial presided over by Judge Advocate Otto During, has testified that he never incited his co- accused to rebel against the government of Sierra Leone and the army leadership.

While testifying on Monday, Sheku intimated the court that he was posted to the canteen as a salesman, and that he also performed other duties at the said canteen on a 72-hour basis.

By Aminata Phidelia Allie

The Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) last week released a damning report on the status of the Family Support Unit (FSU) of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) which reveals serious under-funding of the institution.

The FSU as a police unit handles matters relating to gender and sexual based violence which every study indicates is on a rapid increase in the country.

By Bampia James Bundu

Transnational Sierra Leone, the official representative of the South Africa-based DSTV Multi-choice TV network, has unveiled two new decoders - DSTV HD ZAPPER and EXPLORA, ahead of the much anticipated switch to digital broadcasting – dubbed digital migration.

June 2015 was set as the deadline for all member countries of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to complete the migration process which will see all broadcasters switch from analogue to digital system of broadcasting.

By Mustapha Sesay

The minority leader in parliament, Bernadette Lahai, has expressed concern over the progress of digital migration in Sierra Leone.

June 2015 is the deadline for a global switch from analogue to digital broadcasting set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Every country is expected to have met certain criteria in time for that. Most developed countries have since switched over and in Africa very few have. Sierra Leone is one of them.