Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, a flagbearer aspirant of the All People’s Congress (APC), has expressed concern over what he described as a growing erosion of bail rights in Sierra Leone, following the continued detention of Zainab Sheriff.

Sheriff, who is currently on trial on charges of incitement and threatening language contrary to Section 30(1) of the Public Order Act of 1965, has been denied bail on six consecutive court appearances. The court’s repeated refusal has drawn criticism from legal and political observers, including Kamara.

In a statement addressing the development, Kamara said the situation reflects what he termed “a troubling shift” in the country’s justice system, arguing that the right to bail is being undermined. He described the trend as “a psychological reverse,” where, in his view, “an accused person is presumed custodial until proven innocent.”

Kamara noted that bail has historically served to ensure a defendant’s return to court while protecting the presumption of innocence. However, he claimed that recent practices indicate a departure from this principle. “Cash bail amounts are being set at exorbitant, often unattainable levels, effectively rendering bail a fiction,” he said.

Related News

He further argued that in some cases, bail is denied outright based on reasons such as “national interest” or “ongoing investigations,” which he said lack clear statutory grounding for pretrial detention.

According to Kamara, the implications extend beyond individual cases. He stated that prolonged detention without accessible bail conditions creates a sense of helplessness among accused persons and weakens public confidence in the judiciary. “It signals that their liberty is not a right but a privilege,” he said.

Kamara also warned of broader systemic effects, pointing to overcrowding in remand facilities and the risk of detaining individuals who may later be acquitted. He said this trend sends a message that “the state no longer distinguishes between accusation and guilt.”

Describing the situation as a “fracture in the social contract,” Kamara called for urgent reforms to safeguard constitutional protections. He emphasized that “liberty is the rule, and detention the carefully justified exception.”

There has been no immediate response from judicial authorities regarding the claims. The case involving Sheriff remains before the court.