The Sierra Leone Correctional Service has in a statement informed the public that on July 21, 2020, it released 153 inmates who were held at various correctional facilities across the country after they had been pardoned by President Julius Maada Bio on April 29, 2020.
Initially, 234 inmates were identified for release, but due to the riot at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown on April 29, the discharge was put on hold. Between May and July some of the inmates who were granted clemency completed their jail terms, according to sources at the Correctional Centre.
The regional statistics on released inmates include, Freetown Pademba road Male Correctional Centre – 14; Freetown Male Reintegration Centre – 5; Freetown Female Correctional Centre – 2; Pre- trial Detention and Simulation Centre (Waterloo) – 8; Bo Female Correctional Centre – 1; Bonthe Correctional Centre – 5; Moyamba Correctional Centre – 3; Pujehun Correctional Centre – 11; Mattru Jong Correctional Centre – 05; Kenema Correctional Centre – 12; Kailahun Correctional Centre – 13; Sefadu Correctional Centre – 10; Makeni Correctional Centre – 11; Magburaka Correctional Centre – 04; Mafanta Correctional Centre – 31; Kabala Correctional Centre – 4; Kambia Correctional Centre – 8; and Port Loko Correctional Centre – 6.
Out of the 153 inmates who were released, three are female while 150 are male.
By Sallieu S. Kanu
22/07/2020. ISSUE NO: 7871