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.
The releases followed a representation made to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Frank Kargbo by the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone at which issues including the four were discussed.
They also raised the issues of prison overcrowding and the health of prisoners.
The Commission had stressed that the continued detention of the four soldiers without trial was a violation of their rights and called for their release if they were not going to be charged.
The Attorney General said he was unaware that the four were not charged, and sought clarification from the Chief of Defence Staff. He later told him to take necessary steps for their release if they were not going to be charged.
In November 2013 the Human Rights Commission visited the Pademba Road Prison after it had been initially denied access, to make an on-the-spot assessment of the actual situation that obtained there where they met the soldiers. The Commission strongly said their continued detention was in violation of the provisions of the 1991 Constitution.
In February it made a follow-up visit to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice where Commissioner Jamesina King raised the issue again.
(C) Politico 29/04/14
