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LAB urge new judge to reduce overcrowding in prisons

LAB urge new judge to reduce overcrowding in prisons

Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles has urged the outgoing Legal Aid Manager of the Legal Aid Board, Mr. Ansumana Ivan Sesay to take advantage of the proposed Bail and Sentencing Guidelines to reduce the overcrowding in the prisons.  ‘The proposed Bail and Sentencing Guidelines are very good; we believe if it is interpreted to the letter the prison population will reduce considerably,’ she said.  
Ms. Carlton-Hanciles lamented that far too many of the Board’s clients charged with minor offences like loitering and ‘mammy cuss’ are denied bail on very trivial ground and where they do it is very difficult to find sureties.
She thanked Justice Sesay for the exemplary leadership while serving the Board. ‘We will miss your humility, energy and passion to seek justice for accused persons,’ she said. ‘Be assured the Board lawyers you have trained will continue in your footsteps.’ 
Mr. Ansumana Ivan Sesay was among ten senior lawyers sworn-in as High Court Judges by the Chief Justice of the Republic of Sierra Leone today, July 14 at the Law Court Building in Freetown. The swearing-in follows their approval by Parliament on July 5.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Justice of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Justice Abdulai Charm described the timing of the appointment as crucial in the sense that the ongoing reforms are meant to restore public confidence in the judiciary. ‘So far we are doing well, we hope you will add value to the judiciary,’ he said. ‘Integrity is the key to your work.’
Justice Charm called on family and friends of the new judges to help them do their job and not pressure them into compromising justice. He noted that most of the pressures come from friends and family and not from above. ‘Please do not attempt it,’ he warned.
 He thanked the government for making it possible to appoint more judges which he underlined will make the work lighter and speedy.


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