The Head of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) Complaints Disciplinary Internal Investigations Department (CDIID), Chief Inspector Emmanuel Yamba and his team from Police Headquarters on Thursday 11th May 2023, conducted an awareness-raising sensitization to personnel of Harbour Police Divisional Headquarters with emphasis on offences that are frequently or likely to be committed by police personnel as outlined in the Elections Mandate of CDIID handouts. In his address, C.I. Yamba outlined the various offences in the handouts which are frequently or likely to be committed by police personnel before, during, and after elections. He urged personnel to always be professional in executing their duties, especially during this electioneering period, and to avoid any action that will put the force into disrepute. Outlining some of the acts, he urged personnel to avoid wearing political party colors, taking photographs with politicians, and avoid being found for Lack in Civility. In summary, the CDIID Coordinator Freetown-East C.I. Raymond Kobba urged personnel to be apolitical and to always uphold the professional disciplinary standards of the force. In conclusion, LUC CSP Kpulun thanked the team for their proactive measure in sensitizing members of the force about the offences that are frequently or likely to be committed by police personnel during electioneering period, and the need to avoid being a defaulter.

Suspected ‘Diamba’ Police in Hastings have arrested 20 year-old Salamatu Tarawallie of 79 Carl Street, Hastings with 24 parcels of suspected Cannabis Sativa. The Suspect Salamatu Tarawallie is presently helping the police for Unlawful Possession of twenty-four (24) big parcels wrapped with dry green leaves suspected to be Cannabis Sativa. Police in Hastings acted based on intelligence received and conducted an operation led by ASP Kargbo wherein arrested the 20 years old woman was arrested together with the exhibits which are now subject for further investigation at the Regional CID Harbour Police Station, Ross Road in Freetown. The Sierra Leone Police has been working extremely well in the eastern part of Freetown especially in Waterloo, Western Area Rural and other parts of Freetown. They have made several arrests of people who engaged in fraud, drugs, causing mayhem and other criminal offences. 

On Thursday 11th May, 2023, the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) launched its Second Quarter of 2023 Public Procurement Price Norm at the main conference hall in the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Tower Hill, Freetown. According to section 14 (j) of the Public Procurement Act, 2016, the NPPA should on a quarterly basis publish the prices of commonly used items in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) in order to ensure value for money in the procurement of goods, works, and services. The acting Deputy Director of the Procurement Directorate at the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Unisa Dumbuya thanked the Board, Management and Staff of NPPA for the immense transformation of the public procurement landscape and the continuous improvement of the Public Procurement Price Norm. He encouraged public procurement practitioners to continue using the price norm because it is a law and pleaded with the Authority (NPPA) for three things. Firstly, he asked the Authority to publish the price norm on time because of the instability of prices of commodities; secondly, to ensure that prices in the price norm are differentiated in line with the different International Commercial Terms (INCOTERMS), and finally, to review the 25% price adjustment allowed by the Authority for goods, works, and services because of the present economic situation in the country. A representative from the Board of the NPPA, Mr. Thomas Legg stated that the publication and use of the price norm is a law and therefore, every public procurement practitioner should ensure strict use of it. He added that the Authority has been ensuring the publication and strict usage of the price norm since the new administration of the NPPA set in. He advised procurement practitioners to use the price norm in a way that it will ensure effectiveness and efficiency of the public procurement system. Mr. Legg acknowledged instability of prices of commodities in the market but pleaded with public procurement practitioners to inject fairness in the usage of the price norm. Chief Executive of the NPPA, Ibrahim Brima Swarray also thanked the Board, Management, Staff of NPPA, public procurement practitioners, and the Fourth Estate and other key stakeholders within the public procurement sector for the immense support he has received within these five years. He stated that without them, he could not have succeeded. He reiterated that the price norm is a law and as a result, every public procurement practitioner should ensure strict use of it. He said the Authority has done immensely well in the fight against corruption and positively transformed the public procurement sector because of the unflinching support he is receiving from His Excellency Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio over the years. He pointed out that only Sierra Leoneans are going to make Sierra Leone and thus, every procurement practitioner should play a role in its development. He warned those MDAs that are sending restrictive and sole-source bidding requests to the NPPA to stop doing this and promised that he will not approve their requests because he sees no reason why they should be asking for such procurement methods (sole- source and restrictive bidding) at this moment in time. He ended by calling on all stakeholders in the public procurement sector to continue to support the NPPA in the positive transformation of the sector. The event was climaxed by a question and answer session.

By Feima Sesay Mohamed Sal and Baskaran Sinnath Thamby were on Thursday 11th May, 2023 sent to prison by Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba Road Court No.1 for alleged traveling document fraud. The accused persons were arraigned on two counts charge of Conspiracy to Defraud and Obtaining Money by False Pretenses, contrary to section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act of 1916. According to count one, it was alleged that the accused Mohamed Sal and Baskaran Sinnath Thamby on a date between 4th December 2022 and 4th January 2023 in Freetown with intent to defraud Abdul Karim Sesay conspired together with other persons unknown by falsely pretending that they will facilitate his travel from Sierra Leone to Australia, knowing same to be false. The Police alleged on count two that the accused persons on the same dates and place with intent to defraud Abdul Karim Sesay, obtained from him the sum of NLe 41,000 by falsely pretending that they will facilitate his travel to Australia knowing same to be false. When the charges were read and explained to the accused, they pleaded not guilty. Magistrate Mark Ngegba remanded both accused persons in prison and adjourned the matter to Monday 15th May 2023 for further trial. ASP Ibrahim S Mansaray is prosecuting the matter.

By Feima Sesay Alhaji Sorie Conteh a business tycoon was on Thursday 11th May 2023 sentenced to thirty years’ imprisonment by Magistrate Mark Ngegba of  Pademba Road Court No.1, after he was found guilty of fraudulently converting to his own use and benefit quantities of building materials valued at over one billion Leones entrusted to him by the complainant Rugiatu Lahai for sale. The convict prior to his conviction was arraigned before the court on six counts charge of Fraudulent Conversion contrary to section (20) (ii) (a) of the Larceny Act of 1916. The charge sheet indicated that the accused on diverse dates between 2020 and 2021 at Bo City fraudulently converted to his own use and benefit, quantities of building materials, soft drinks, imported crates of water, mattresses, chair rugs and other valuable items, totaling one billion, seventy seven million and eighty thousand Leones for the purpose of sale and delivery. Before sentencing the convict, Magistrate Ngeba said the prosecution proved its case that led to the guilty verdict as the prosecution had called four witnesses to testify in court. He said the testimonies of all the witnesses corroborated, indicating that the complainant had indeed handed over the properties to the accused for sale. He added that the accused in his defense testified on oath and called only one witness. Magistrate Ngeba informed the court that he had looked at the evidences before him and is convinced that the prosecution had proven the guilt of the accused beyond all reasonable doubt. He added that the accused is guilty of the offense he was standing trial for. The convicted accused was unrepresented in court and so no plea mitigation was made on his behalf. Magistrate Ngegba therefore sentenced the accused to five years’ each for all six counts, totaling thirty years’ imprisonment, adding that the sentence should run concurrently. A.S.P Christiana Davis Cole prosecuted the matter.

A press release issued by the Judiciary of Sierra Leone states that it has received with great disappointment and consternation a social media video supported by an audio commentary making rounds on social media. It stated further that the faceless commentator suggests that it was a Judges watching pornography in the Court Room during Court session. The release added that the circulation of the video by the faceless person doesn’t only contravene various Provisions in the Cyber Security and Crime Act of 2021, but is a calculated attempt to bully a Judge contrary to Section 44 (1) (a)(b) of the Cyber Security and Crime Act of 2021, which are criminal offences under the laws of Sierra Leone and even internationally. The release lamented that those miscreants are bent on executing a campaign of calumny aimed at destroying the reputation of the Judiciary and the revered Benchers that are working so hard to give their service to national development. According to the press release, the video itself is from Ogun State, South Western part of Nigeria and the person with the black robe is not a Judge but a Lawyer occupying the Bar seat reserved for Lawyers. The release noted that, “not only do we strongly condemn in the strongest terms this ill-motivated act aimed at dwindling the sanctity of the Court and the entire Judiciary as an independent arm of government, we shall lodge an official report with the Sierra Leone Police, in order to investigate and bring perpetrators who continue to share such videos online, to face the full penalty of the law.” However, the release warned members of the general public to desist from sharing this audio and similar audios and videos aimed at bringing the Judiciary and the administration of justice into disrepute and contempt, as such conduct constitutes criminal offences under the Cyber Security and Crimes Act 2021, adding “we would take stringent and appropriate action against anyone found to be in contravention of the aforementioned statutes which equally amounts to Contempt of Court.”

Presidential Candidate for All People’s Congress (APC) Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara has received a tumultuous welcome by thousands of APC supporters in Conakry, capital city of neighboring Guinea. This happened after Dr. Samura Kamara returned from a week’s visit to the United Kingdom to honor the invitation by the Commonwealth Secretary General and other and international partners in Europe to discuss peace, democracy and free and fair elections in Sierra Leone. Dr. Samura Kamara used the opportunity to speak to APC supporters in London and later in Conakry. In both countries, he was welcomed with open arms and warmth. Dr. Samura M.W. Kamara appreciated their welcome and hospitality which serves as evidence of his popularity and the love and respect Sierra Leoneans around the world have for him.

The All People’s Congress (APC) in a press release dated 11th May, 2023 noted with utter dismay the substandard and mediocre Voter Identification Cards which the Electoral Commission Sierra Leone (ECSL) printed and issued to the electorate for the 24th June, 2023 General Elections. The press lease stated further that the APC is cognizant of the fact that, the ECSL is charged with the responsibility of conducting National Elections. In light of conducting these elections, the Commission is also tasked with other responsibilities such as registration of voters, verification of voters’ eligibility, producing voter identification cards, and the preparation of ballot papers and other voting materials for every General Election as per the Constitution. According to the press release, the aforementioned responsibilities are anticipated to be executed in accordance with the law and with due diligence and integrity. It is expected that such duties are to be carried out in consultation with the political parties, and this does not only promote transparency but also serves as a booster to the confidence of political parties and the electorate. The release noted however, that disappointingly, the procurement process of these voter identification cards was unilaterally and clandestinely done by the Commission and; political parties were never involved. The press release went further to state that, the shady procurement process explains in part, the reason for the production of the worst voter identification cards this country has ever had. It noted that almost all of the cards produced are in black and white, contrary to the colored photos that were displayed during the Voter Registration Exhibition. It could be recalled that a good number of the cards issued, have smudged photos making it difficult if not impossible to identify the owners. Some of the cards have incorrect gender and /or addresses. The release claimed that this is a deliberate move by ECSL to refuse qualified voters whose facial photos are unidentifiable from voting on polling day. The release added that, in addition, the APC’s Information Technology (IT) specialists have inspected the cards and noticed that, the feature on the voter identification card purported to be a security feature is bogus and not a security feature, and so, the voter registration cards have no security feature at all. Why is the ECSL deceiving the public with purported security feature? The release went on to state that the APC has also noticed that these cards are predisposed to be counterfeited any day or at any time. The release added that based on the findings of APC lT specialists, any local internet cafeteria can reproduce those cards at even better quality. It noted also that the conduct of the voter verification/registration as observed created a lop-sided playıng field to disenfranchise a certain section of the electorate and that it is evident that the data for thousands of citizens who had registered in this election cycle were incomplete, incorrect or missing from the register. In many of these instances, citizens were not allowed to do the necessary corrections or create a fresh registration. Instead, citizens were inappropriately referred to the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) whose mandate does not include voter registration, the release said. It went further to state that the omission of some names from the Provisional List of Voters photo-less registration details, incomplete data, and the lack of transparency, openness, inclusiveness of ECSL in its operations, clearly suggests that the integrity of both the voter and the registration processes have been skewed and has thus compromised the entire electoral process. According to the release, the way and manner in which ECSL removed so-called fraudulent entries in the register, including duplicates, was never publicized to allow the public and political parties in particular to scrutinize the lists and make official objections to entries they consider either fraudulent or duplicated. Furthermore, the release maintained that providing electoral stakeholders, access to scrutinize the voter list would satisfy the electorate and political parties that the identity documents provided by the ECSL are legitimate. The APC in its press release noted that “we are of the firmest of convictions that these voter identification cards will not make for credible elections and in that regard, and with a view to espousing credible elections, we will not tolerate the use of these voter identification cards for the forthcoming and any other elections.” The cards, the release went on, need to be regularized, system sanitized, and political parties allowed to audit the system in order to know how many cards were produced, the securitized measures taken, and the names and appropriate addresses of the owners of the cards produced be published. Finally, the APC in its release strongly warned that the situation be ameliorated or redressed because the APC will never allow such unprotected cards to be used as identity for eligibility in the forthcoming or any other elections in which the APC is a participant. “So, in doing the amelioration, the APC entreats you to involve every political party throughout the process. The Commission is expected to be expeditious in redressing these concerns. “The ECSL’s unresponsiveness to stakeholders’ concerns and the failure to address them has substantially undermined public trust in the entire electoral process. The All People’s Congress, having highlighted the many concerns to be addressed in the next few days, wants to put the ECSL on notice that if the ECSL fails to address these issues within the time stated, the party will exercise its constitutional right to call for a nationwide peaceful protest to demonstrate its dissatisfaction.”