25-Year-Old Woman Appeals for Police Compensation After Losing One-Eye Vision in Brutality Incident
Sahid Bangura Hassanatu Habib Kamara, a 25-year-old resident of No. 2 Ellie Street in Kenema, is urgently appealing to the Sierra Leone Police and the public to honor a compensation ruling from the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) related to police brutality she suffered on June 20, 2019.
Kamara alleges that during a confrontation between commercial motorbike riders and road safety corps in Kenema, she was subjected to excessive force by a police officer known locally as “Whiter.” The incident resulted in a stray tear gas canister striking her in the eye, leading to permanent blindness in that eye.
After a thorough investigation and fair hearings, the HRCSL recommended a compensation amount of Le50,000 (new notes) for Kamara. However, she claims that the Sierra Leone Police have not complied with this ruling, leaving her without justice and further eroding public trust in law enforcement.
Report further urged that, the Sierra Leone Police, as a constitutionally established institution, must protect life and property and uphold the rule of law. They are equally bound by principles of accountability and justice.
It emphasized that compliance with HRCSL’s compensation orders is not only a legal obligation but also a moral imperative to respect citizens’ human rights and foster reconciliation.
Kamara is calling on the leadership of the Sierra Leone Police to take immediate action to fulfill the compensation order issued by the HRCSL. “By doing so, the Sierra Leone Police will help restore confidence in the police force and demonstrate a genuine commitment to justice, accountability, and human rights in Sierra Leone,” the report concluded.
This need to be done
I’m really glad to see this post about justice for this young, innocent girl. She truly deserves compensation for what she went through. SierraLoaded and everyone involved — please don’t let this case die down. Let’s keep pushing until justice finally prevails. This time, we need real action, not silence.