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The Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) has released a concerning report detailing the unlawful treatment of detainees in police stations across Sierra Leone, including Congo Cross, Aberdeen, Lumley, and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters.
The monitoring visit, which involved interviews with 149 suspects (137 males and 12 females), revealed serious human rights violations, particularly in relation to prolonged detention without charge and inadequate medical care.
According to the report, some detainees have been held for over five months while awaiting legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Among the most alarming cases highlighted was that of a 65-year-old woman who has been detained for over eight days without being formally charged. A pregnant woman has reportedly been in custody for over two weeks without receiving necessary medical attention.
The report also noted that 13 street beggars were arrested and detained in police cells at Lumley. Furthermore, the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) sent two suspects to the CID detention facility for safe custody, where they have remained for over two months without appearing in court.
In a positive development, CHRDI advocated for the release of a seriously ill suspect, which resulted in him receiving medical attention. The organization successfully secured the release of 13 individuals across four police stations during their monitoring visit.
CHRDI stressed that the lack of coordination within Sierra Leone’s criminal justice system is causing significant delays, leading to prolonged detentions that undermine the effectiveness of the justice system and violate citizens’ rights.
The organization urged the Sierra Leone government to uphold the rights of its citizens as outlined in both international and national laws. They called for the immediate charging or release of all detainees unlawfully held in police custody beyond the time limits established by Sierra Leonean law.
Thanks CHRDI for saving and protecting the people’s lives! This is not just a fight for “right” but a fight for all innocent lives.
Where begging becomes a crime in sierra Leone?
While our government is flying everywhere to make sure they secure financial support from others, who detained them?
We would have loved to learn about the various crimes committed,as state crimes may take a longer detention or extended terms and time.
Some bogus journalists in Sierra Leone take pleasure in politicising and discrediting whatever the current government does. We call that gutter journalism.