The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has confirmed that the Sierra Leone Police have returned the personal belongings of Dutch journalist Sophie through her lawyers, Edrina Chambers, in the presence of the Minister of Information and Civic Education.

However, police are withholding Sophie’s SD card, citing “security reasons.”

The Minister of Information and Civic Education reiterated that Sophie is welcome to return to Sierra Leone at any time. The Minister also stated that the police were simply fulfilling their duties.

When SLAJ inquired about the questioning of Sophie, ACP Allieu Jalloh, head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), stated that the police found “a lot of inconsistencies and deception” in her statement.

He added, however, that her release was a government decision.