Legal Aid praise peaceful nature of launch in Bo

Legal Aid praise peaceful nature of launch in Bo.

The Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles has praised the people of Bo city for coming out in their thousands to grace the launch of the Legal Aid Office in Bo. The Director was particularly impressed with the peaceful manner the people conducted themselves. ‘Even though we had in the audience people from different political parties and shades of opinion, the launch passed off without any incident,’ she said. ‘There was plenty of drumming and dancing and most importantly the message went down very well. Everybody appreciate what the Board is doing and happy to work with us’

The Executive Director had this to say regarding the statements made by stakeholders including civil society, the Sierra Leone Motor Drivers Union and the Traders Council: ‘None of the speakers was critical of our operations or independence,’ she said.

The Executive Director rubbished rumours peddled by cynics in the media that most of the beneficiaries of the scheme in Bo are hardcore criminals. She pointed out that the Board recruited lawyers for the upcountry offices including Bo in August 2016 and deployed them in September 2016.

Giving updates on the provision of legal assistance to indigents in Bo, she said that the Board has secured discharges for ten indigent remand inmates charged with loitering, obtaining money by false pretense, fraudulent conversion, assault and wounding.

‘It’s not true that those whose discharge we have secured are ravaging Bo city,’ she said.  ‘As a matter of fact, none of our few beneficiaries in Bo has reoffended. You can check this with the police and the stakeholders including the Regional Chairperson of Civil Society Organizations for the Southern Province, Jeremy Simbo.’

 Also the Board is currently representing seven indigent remand cases at the High Court, eighteen at the Magistrate Court and two in the Juvenile Court.

The Executive Director has described the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Hon. Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara as one of the biggest assets to the Legal Aid Board. She was also quick to remind people that while the Board is independent and not subject to instructions from any politician, it is under the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

‘The Attorney General has contributed to attracting the crowds to our events in addition to explaining government’s  policy and actions in promoting the justice delivery system which by the way is good for the work of the Board,’ she said. ‘People who want to politicize the work of the Board should be reminded that politicians of the different parties including Members of Parliaments and Councilors participate in our community outreach events.

By: Joseph Dumbuya