By Stephen V. Lansana
Christian Lawyers Centre (hereinafter referred to as LEGAL LINK) on Thursday, November 30, 2023, condemned the violent attack in Freetown on Sunday, November 26, 2023 and called for an independent judge-led public inquiry into the security breaches and forceful opening of the male and female correctional centres.
The government called the security breach on the military armoury in Freetown and other strategic locations as an attempted coup. There were 20 deaths including 14 military officer, one police officer, one prison officer, three assailants, and one civilian who works for one private security firm.
A total of 2, 213 inmates were released: 1919 inmates at the Male Correctional center at Pademba Road, 100 female inmates at the Special Court correctional center, and 14 inmates at the Safe Custody [ soldiers who were under investigation for the alleged coup plots].
Legal Link vehemently take the greatest exception to any move, by anyone, to replace a legitimate government by undemocratic and unconstitutional means.
Legal Link calls on the relevant authorities to institute an independent Judge-led public inquiry into the November 26 carnage to unearth the true causes for such security breaches as well as the actual perpetrators responsible for such mayhem in our society.
The Rights Based Organisation added that until such happens, it is prudent for state officials and members of the public to show a great deal of restraints by refusing to make hasty generalizations and assumptions which are not informed by an independent investigative process as that would amount to influencing and/or “putting the cart before the horse”.
“A cardinal principle of law to be remembered in such moments is that an accused person should always be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a competent court of law,” the Executive Director of Legal Link, Rashid Dumbuya said. “Today in Sierra Leone, the fact that thousands of inmates are currently on the run poses a clear and present danger to not only civilian lives and property but also to the nation’s security interests and wellbeing.”
He emphasized that “it brings our criminal justice system to a complete halt and leaves complainants that have been criminally offended without a remedy as majority of the accused persons that were on remand and in detention at the male and female correctional centres are now on the run. The necessity to institute therefore an independent Judge – led public inquiry cannot be overemphasized”.
He explained that a Judge-led inquiry, among other things, will help ensure accountability, expose weaknesses, apportion blame, and further proffer plausible recommendations that will help bolster our security architecture in prisons and military barracks so as to prevent a re-occurrence of similar security breaches in the future.
“Apparently, while we salute the gallant security officers that showed bravery in resisting the violent attacks and restoring calm in the Capital, we however urge all security forces and personnel going forward to adopt a Human Rights – based approach in their treatment of alleged perpetrators by ensuring that they are not dealt with extra-judicially, but are investigated, charged and prosecuted in accordance with the laws of Sierra Leone,” he pointed out.