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The Chief Minister of Sierra Leone Dr. David Sengeh has held an engagement with popular convicted Rapper Boss LA on Friday 1st September 2023, at the Pademba Road Male Correctional Centre [Pademba Road Prison] in Freetown.
Speaking on the rationale behind his visit, he stated that one of President Bio’s Big 5 Agenda is Justice reform and they have heard so many things about the Pademba Road Facility which is at the heart of Justice Reforms. He added that he also wants to engage with inmates and see the facility firsthand.
The Chief Minister revealed that he was following the rapper’s case but never met him as a Person. He confirmed that he sat with him like a brother to discuss about his perception and reality. He affirmed that he is inspired by La’s Mood as he is taking one day at a time.
“He feels that that he doesn’t get the justice he deserves. But it is a legal matter and he is going through the processes of appeals, processes of ensuring that he get the Justice he needs. He is inspiring on the part where he spoke about his commitment to peace, commitment to interacting with the other young guys around him and that what we all need. We all need peace Ambassadors, we all need to advocate for more Justice. Definitely I’m happy to meet him and Im inspired by him and I wish his legal people continue with the processes they are engage in,” He stated.
Speaking on his interactions with various Inmates, he pointed out that they are ordinary Sierra Leoneans and our brothers. He empathised that he feels hope that they will come out and contribute to society. He described the Prison environment as clean as he admired the way inmates are taking care of the facility.
He cautioned the youths of Sierra Leone that we all make mistakes but we need to be mindful the kind of mistakes and things we do. He reminded that we have laws and we need to be law abiding and make sure we don’t come in conflict with it.
Tracing the circumstances leading to his conviction, Boss LA was found guilty on all four counts of charges levied against him. They include robbery and assault contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
It was alleged that in August 2022, Boss LA broke out a fight at the Leonco Fueling station at Congo Cross where he beat up the pump attendant and got away with her sales. Before his sentencing, LAJ accepted responsibility for the crimes he was convicted of and pleaded for mercy.
He acknowledged the negative impact of his actions on the victims and the Leonco Petrol Station and apologized for his behaviour.
Although he denied being a thief, he has shown remorse and asked for forgiveness. He emphasized that he is a giver and a man of peace.
The rapper also highlighted the positive impact of his music on his fans and colleagues, which he pointed out has been bringing people together and promoting peace in the country.In his mitigation statement, he also stated that he has collaborated with President Julius Maada Bio and First Lady Mrs. Fatima Bio to promote peace, stressing that he made a lot of positive contributions to the society and he is ready to make amends and become a changed man.
Boss LAJ apologized to his family, friends, fans and the people of Sierra Leone for his bad behaviour and promised that he will change his ways and become a better person.
Passing the sentence, Justice Adrian Fisher stated that he had taken all the factors that Boss LAJ had highlighted for mitigation that was why he was not sentencing him for the maximum fifteen years, but he has reduced his sentence to nine years.
Mr Chief minister you are the best man in president Bio government, we need your help, we need you to speak for Boss LAJ and others
A very timely visit to the Pademba correctional center by this very hard working and the rightfull Minister ever in that Ministry. Thanks Dr.David ,and times awàits you ahead .From Mile91 Town,Sierra Leone.
Mr minister keep up the good work
Boss LAJ was a SERIOUS criminal in the USA and continued that in Sierra Leone. His actions for which he was convicted and that we know happened were very serious and the problem with him is that he would have been inspiring others to act like him. He is not innocent, he was not wrongfully convicted and he is an example of the extreme lawlessness pervasive in our country. People need to stop acting like he is a victim. He needs to serve his time.
Thé right man in the right position thank you so much Mr president for appointing this gentleman as your chief minister
ALLAH will bless you for hearing him(LAJ) out, because the way they treated him was unjust. But ALLAH know best. Prophet yusuf was a victim of similar situation.
The man, himself pleaded guilty to the four count charges so why wuna dae say, he was wrongfully accused? Wuna dem fans of laj nor dae empathize with am instead na mock wuna dae mock e situation
God bless you Mr. Chief minister. You have played a very important role in president Bio governance. And also thank you for hearing with Boss LAJ(De man of peace and de man of help render).
God bless you sir and continue to lead you in the right way.
Chief minister dr sengeh,
We need 5 of your type,
Sierra leone is transformed forever.
You have the people’s heart ❤.
Visiting and perhaps monitoring events at the Pademba Road Torture Chamber is laudable. The facility is overcrowded and has outgrown; the medical situation is bad; food situation is bad; vocational and library facility is bad; the social services are inadequate; and worse of all, there are vast number of inmates who should be out on probation and or alternative sentences. Your government has also added to the population by unnecessarily jailing people for just criticizing or expressing by views about bad governance. Mr. Chief Minister, you need to search your conscience and take necessary actions.
That good Chief minister,God will reward u,