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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