Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, David Moinina Sengeh, has committed to paying fines for 47 inmates in Pujehun.

He made this decision after visiting the Pujehun Correctional Center and observing that the facility, which was built to house 1,914 inmates, is operating beyond its capacity

According to Sengeh the center is crowded with people who were only there because they are poor and they couldn’t pay the fines they were given at conviction, adding that the more troubling was the fact that about 90% of the inhabitants are young people.

He continued that while the government of President Julius Maada Bio has now passed a new law in the Criminal Procedural Act which addresses some of these issues that kept poor people through incarceration, more justice still needs to be done quickly.

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He said the Bio Administration is a human capital government, and as leaders within the government, they must demonstrate this through their actions.

“We learned that there were Prisoners there behind bars because they couldn’t pay a fine of 200 leones. Some 500 and most 1,000. How can someone spend time in prison because they are poor? This is not justice.”
“As a champion of Radical Inclusion, who advocates for a more just society, I immediately committed to paying the fines of all inmates in the Pujehun prison. All fines for the 47 inmates will be paid as they go through appropriate legal procedures to obtain their freedom. That’s the least I could do.”

He also stated that he has committed to asking the authorities to send a judge to visit the prisons immediately to resolve ongoing cases, as there are about a dozen or more inmates who haven’t been tried for up to two years, adding that President Bio often reminded them that, justice delayed is justice denied.

He disclosed that they have had similar trials in prisons in Freetown, Kambia, and Kailahun and they will not stop until everyone can get access to quality justice.

“The government is far gone with its justice sector strategy, something my office pays close attention to and coordinates, and we will ensure these findings are addressed. Pujehun is my home. Yes, these actions I take are about government (we believe in human capital). They are also personal to me, and it’s about the principles and values I have. Listening to one of the prisoners talk, it reaffirmed my faith in our shared humanity and our shared commitment to transforming our individual lives and our collective society.”On the road, we are committed to delivering it by Christmas.”

The Chief Minister was accompanied by the Secretary to the President, the head of the Correctional Services, two members of Parliament, a district councilor, and a few local stakeholders.