Towards enhancing justice delivery for residents of the Western Area Rural District, the Acting Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, Hon. Justice Nicholas C. Browne-Marke, has directed the establishment of an additional Magistrate’s Court in the district.

This directive comes following a comprehensive needs assessment conducted by a high-level team including the Master and Registrar of the High Court, the Director General of the Sierra Leone Correctional Services, and the Local Unit Commander of the Waterloo Police Division.

Moses Lamin Kamara, spokesperson for the Judiciary of Sierra Leone, highlighted that the initiative seeks to address the growing number of cases at the magisterial level more efficiently. The Waterloo area, in particular, has recently reported the highest number of heinous crimes in each criminal session, underscoring the urgent need for additional judicial resources.

“Despite the full operation of the courts in Waterloo and York, there is still a clear need for another Magistrate’s Court, especially in the Waterloo mainland area,” Kamara stated. He noted that the decision was based on a thorough assessment, which strongly supported the need for both a new Magistrate’s Court and a High Court in the district.

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Kamara assured that the Acting Chief Justice has assigned a magistrate to preside over matters in the newly established Waterloo Magistrate’s Court No. 2. Additionally, a judge will be assigned to the High Court, which is set to commence operations in the new judicial year.

Mohamed Bangura, the first complainant to have his case heard at the newly operational court, praised the decision to establish a second Magistrate’s Court in Waterloo. He called it a significant step in the right direction, emphasizing its importance in improving access to justice for the local community. This move represents a crucial effort to ensure timely and effective justice delivery in the Western Area Rural District.