Head of police media and public relations, Assistant Superintendent Ibrahim Samura has condemned attacks on portraits and symbols of candidates of political parties in the country. He said political parties were allowed by law to display such in public places around the country.
His caution followed the a row at East End Police over the refusal of some supporters of the ruling All People's Congress (APC) to display on the clock tower portraits of Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio, flagbearer of the opposition Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP).
ASP Samura told Politico that the pasting of political symbols and portraits on private property should be done with the consent of the owner of such property. He said the destruction of party posters and symbols was an electoral offense punishable by law. “Offenders are liable to more than five years imprisonment” he went on.
His counterpart at the Political Parties’ Registration Commission, Lucien Momoh, said party supporters should comport themselves before, during and after the November 17 polls. He added that the Public Elections Act of 2012 stipulated campaign rules and regulations with various electoral offences.
Head of Criminal Investigations Department, Alfred Karrow Kamara said that there were many cases of electoral offences but expressed hope that they would collate and publish the correct number of such offences committed across the country.
He said “we are waiting for crime officers around the country to send in their report so that we can create a database on the amount of offences so far”.
(c) Politico 08/11/12
