The Judiciary of Sierra Leone has in a media statement it put out on Friday August 28, 2020, informed the public that it will commence special Criminal Session of the High Court of Sierra Leone to try 353 accused persons.
The Sessions will be sitting in Kailahun, Pujehun, Moyamba, Mattru Jong, Port Loko and Kabala, outside the regular jurisdictions of Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Makeni and Kono. They will commence in Kailahun, Pujehun and Port Loko on Monday, 31st August, 2020 – 11th September, 2020; Moyamba and Kabala towns from the 14th September, 2020 – 19th September, 2020 & 14th – 28th September, 2020 respectively; followed by Mattru Jong, 21st – 26th September, 2020 and Magburaka from 12th – 26th October, 2020.
According to the statement, the sessions are fully funded by the Judiciary of Sierra Leone through the Government of Sierra Leone and geared to addressing overcrowding in correctional centres. It will be held in places where there are no sitting Judges.
“Bringing justice to the doorsteps of residents of respective localities is very fundamental to my leadership and the proposed Criminal Sessions of the High Court will create the opportunity for justice to be meted out in the respective localities within the shortest possible time,” said Hon. Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards.
This is the second time that Criminal Sessions of the High Court are being held outside the regular jurisdictions of Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Makeni and Kono this year in areas such as Kailahun, Pujehun, Moyamba, Mattru Jong, Port Loko and Kabala, the first being in February to March this year.
As part of this second round of Criminal Sessions of the High Court in the provinces, Tonkolili-Magburaka will be holding Sessions for the very first time like what happened with Mattru-Jong, Kabala, Pujehun and Kailahun in February to March 2020.