Acting Chief Justice Assures Inmates in Kabala of Speedy Trial

The Acting Hon. Chief Justice of the Republic of Sierra Leone Hon. Justice N. Browne-Marke is presently at the Kabala Correctional Centre to have face-to-face discussion with inmates on how their cases should be expeditiously tried.

The Hon. Chief Justice embarked on the above trip in early hours on Saturday, 04 May, 2024 after he was informed by the Director General of the Correctional Services that inmates at the center are demonstrating and same refusing to eat because their cases or matters are not making progress.

Addressing inmates and correctional officers at the center, the Hon. Chief Justice said, the plights of the inmates was communicated to him by the Director General himself and he forwarded news article that expressed the same concern.

“Your concerns are in place and they are in line with our vision statement which is accessible, fair and expeditious justice for all in Sierra Leone. Hence, I will assure you that before the commencement of the May Criminal Session, a judge will be assigned to address your concerns.” The Hon. CJ assured inmates.

In a conducted tour at the Centre, the Hon. Chief Justice discovered that thirty-two (32) inmates are on trial at the High Court and twenty-three (23) are on remand at the magistrate court. This means that the assurance of the Hon. Chief Justice is directed to fifty-five (55) inmates whose cases will be expeditiously dealt with at the start of the May Criminal Session.

His observation further revealed that the center was built to host not more than Seventy (70) inmates, but same is currently hosting one hundred and eleven(111) male inmates and six (6) female inmates making a total of one hundred and seventeen (117) inmates.

Even though some of the male inmates are locked-up in cells meant for female inmates, the Centre cannot be tagged as overcrowding Centre in strict reality.

The inmates and Correctional officers were joyous not because the Hon. Chief Justice himself visited them, but on the grounds that he had face-to-face discussion with them and assured them of expeditious trial before the close of the May Criminal Session.