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Showing posts from August 9, 2016

How the Legal Aid Board is dealing with issues outside its mandate

Michael, 20 is one of over seven hundred beneficiaries of legal aid in 2016. Michael’s case is unique. He is the second known beneficiary of the scheme to reoffend. The first known case is Amidu Bangura, 35. He was charged with wounding with intent in June 2006 and spent nearly ten years on remand before the Legal Aid Board secured his discharge for want of prosecution on 30 March 2016. Amidu reoffended and was arrested in June 2016 and detained at the Pademba Road Correctional Center for involving in a fight which left the other party sustaining serious injuries. In this instance, Amidu was not a priority to the Board because legal assistance is provided on a first come first serve basis. This means he has to wait until the hundreds of remand detainees needing legal aid are served first. But as the heavens could have it, the police did not press charges against him. Michael was a test case for the Board. This is because the Board has to deal with an issue outside its ma

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

As a Lawyer who has practiced in Sierra Leone before joining the international tribunal, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, I have seen firsthand how accused persons had to endure countless adjournments and months on remand due to lack of legal advice and representation.

My experience working with the Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board since its establishment in May 2015 has broadened my understanding of the depth of the challenges plaguing the formal and traditional justice systems.

I have visited overcrowded prisons and police cells around the country. I have seen many accused persons literally abandoned in prison either because they cannot secure a bail or have not been with an indictment. Some have spent more time in remand than the maximum sentence for the crimes they are alleged to have committed. I have seen victims of domestic violence, rape and discrimination on the basis of gender resort to divine intervention because they cannot afford the cost of accessing justice.

I have seen powerful self-styled local lawyers run the show in the local/traditional courts and in the process abuse the rights of people and the Local Court Act 2011.

We have engaged and canvassed the views of agencies in the justice sector, Parliamentarians and non-governmental organizations. The interest in and expectations of the organization are heartwarming but also breathtaking.

This is what drives our commitment to deliver on our mandate to make justice accessible to those who have been left out because they are poor. For a start, we will deploy Paralegals in Police Stations in the capital and the 149 chiefdoms in the country to monitor Local Courts to ensure their activities are consistent with national laws and international human rights standards. Also, we will hire 100 Lawyers to provide free legal services to our clients.

This is without doubt a tall order considering the organization is new and the resources at its disposal are far from being adequate. We are convinced with support from the government, donors and well-wishers we can make a world of difference in the lives of ordinary people and in the process contribute to restoring much needed confidence in the justice system.