S.L. Daily Mail Request The Attention of Sierra Leone’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice
27th January 2012 · 5 Comments
“PLEASE HELP ME – MY PEOPLE ARE DYING!”
A Sierra Leonan’s Plea For Justice.
I sincerely believe that there is someone somewhere out there who will read this writing and relate to its contents with empathy and help “FREE MY PEOPLE” from the constant pain and suffering they have endured all these years by those who believe they are GOD ALMIGHTY. We have tried everything within our reach to see that justice is awarded to those who deserve it by the Judicial System in Sierra Leone, but not at all. I now believe the saying that, “There is no justice for the poor, and justice delayed is justice denied”. These events are currently revolving around us in Makeni High Court, Sierra Leone. There is no ray of hope or end in site for the sufferings of the people of Rokel. This is why I am turning to you with closed hands and tears rolling down my cheeks asking for your help. You may very well be the one who holds the key to fix this problem.
The people of Rokel Village, Tainkatoper (Constituency 51) –TMS Chiefdom – Port Loko District, were busy with farm work to earn their families meager meals to sustain their daily livelihoods, when their village was attacked by a band of over one hundred well-armed ex-military, RUF fighters and men of konikay village who decided to wipe out Rokel Village and claim their land. With a pre-meditated plan and malice aforethought, the people of Konikay village led by Captain Alhaji Bakarr Kargbo and his ex-combatants and RUF fighters attacked Rokel Village in December 2007 and burnt down 43 houses, sparing the Mosque and the elementary school only. They looted cattle, goats, sheep, chickens, and everything they can lay their hands on. The entire village was deserted, families separated in the process of running for their lives.
They attacked and injured the Police Officers who came from Port Loko Town to investigate the matter in response to the “Trespassing, arson and looting Complaint” made by the people of Rokel. Two people lost their lives in the process. The victims of Rokel who were attacked were arrested by different police unit out of their jurisdiction and imprisoned in Makeni Town, even though the incident occurred in Port Loko. The arrest and choice of venue was done under the directives of the following powerful men:
1. Late Alhaji Abu Bakarr Kamara – Former Principal of Ahmadiyya Sec. Sch.
2. Dr. Saidu Kamara – Kingtom Police Hospital
3. Dr. Sheku Sesay – Former Presidential Affairs Minister
4. Alhaji Ibrahim Kamara – Former Chief Police Officer (CPO)
5. Captain Alhaji Bakarr Kargbo – Military Police
These men openly boasted and promised to wipe out Rokel Village, because of the illiterate folks residing in the village who refused to surrender their land to Alhaji Ibrahim Kamara (CPO).
The latter want to undertake a massive garden project on his return from the USA and retire comfortably at the plantation. My brother and uncle were the last two to be granted bail in 2009 after two years in prison in Makeni Town. The case was ongoing with frequent adjournments for about 5 years now. They were re-arrested last week and detained in a maximum prison in Makeni Town under the directives of the new judge (Mr. Fofanah) assigned to the case who is also related and raised by late Alhaji A B Kamara. This is clearly a serious conflict of interest. He is from the other side, hence the reversal of his predecessor’s judgment.
Because of this latest development and the power of those involve, we have no option but to pray for justice to take its course, and a savior who will stand up for justice. We wish for the following:
1. The case to be tried in Port Loko – Where all parties reside and the incident occurred.
2. Judge Fofanah to excuse himself from this case since he is related to the other party.
3. We want a new judge to handle the case.
I therefore turn to all Sierra Leoneans for help. I can be reached on: 703-580-4970 (H) 703-994-6471 (C) OR absatu@aol.com
Below is the initial report by Standard Times Newspaper on this story.
Seven Months in Detention Without Trial….Money, Politics Land Innocent Farmer in Jail.
Posted by Alhaji Saidu Kamara on Jun 25, 2008, 02:31
42- year- old Abdul Karim Kargbo a farmer and businessman of Rokel village in the TMS chiefdom Port Loko district, is currently languishing at the Makeni Prison as he was wrongfully accused of committing the offence of murder. Despite there are no substantial and circumstantial evidences to prove the guilt of Karim, he has spent over six months in detention without trial. The allegation levied against Abdul Karim Kargbo is that he murdered Edward Kargbo alias Edie-Boy and Alimamy Kargbo all of Konikay village in the same chiefdom sometime in December 2007. Police investigation has clearly exonerated Abdul Karim Kargbo, but those who hate his guts and want to see him perish are busy using their political connections and money to constantly keep him in detention at the Makeni Prison. His appearance at the Makeni Magistrate court recently presided over by Magistrate Emmanuella Harding is to present a fake picture to the public about the commencement of his trial. The matter is not only crawling like a chameleonic in a hot afternoon, but is sending the wrong signal to the public that justice for the poor and under privileged in Sierra Leone is far fetched.
It was a long standing dispute between two villages, according to investigation carried out by Standard Times investigator, Alhaji Saidu Kamara that the innocent farmer has been used as scapegoats. Two villages have been engaged in a land dispute at Rokelbunkeh between Alhaji Dauda Kargbo of Konikay and Karim of Rokel. Reports say sometime in December 2007, some inhabitants of Konikay attacked two individuals of the Rokel village. They are Gbessay Kargbo the elder brother of Karim and Alimamy Bangura, both of them sustained serious injuries as a result of the attack. After the attack, it was reported that Abdul Karim conveyed the victims to the Port Loko Police station, where statement was obtained from them and later referred to the Port Loko Government Hospital for medical treatment, while the LUC of the Port Loko Police Station, Supt. Tarawally alias Pastor ordered a team of armed OSD personnel led by OC Ibrahim to accompany Karim to the village for the sole purpose of inviting the attackers. On their arrival, police say at the Rokel village, it was alleged that some individuals of Konikay having the support of Dr. Sheku Sesay former Minister of Presidential Affairs Minister and Dr. Saidu Kamara of the Kingtom Police Hospital allegedly hired the services of thugs comprising ex- military and RUF fighters and deployed them in an unidentified locations within the Rokel village.
So when Karim and the SSD personnel about nine in number arrived in Rokel they were attacked and disarmed and their AK 47 rifles withdrawn from them. During the scuffle three of the police officers sustained wounds on their heads. The angry mob vow to kill Karim, but luck was on his side when he was rescued by a reinforcement team of police personnel who returned with him to the Port Loko Police Station. The LUC advised Karim to stay at the station for security reason, this reporter was told by police officers at the Port Loko Police Station’. While Karim was in police custody a private soldier whose name was giving as Mohamed Kamara arrived at the police station with two rifles, which he claimed were given to him by the Paramount Chief of TMS PC Bai Kama Ahtinkie 11.
LUC Tarawally later ordered one of his officers, by the name of Sanpha a native of Konikay village to collect the remaining three guns. On his arrival at the Rokel village, he discovered that the entire village has been burnt down, sparing the Mosque and a Primary School. About 34 houses were razed to the ground. “Most of the youth were armed with guns including Edie-Boy who later handed over the three guns belonging to the police” Sanpha explained to his boss on his return. (To be continued)
Culled from Standard Times Press
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© 2012, Daily Mail. All rights reserved. Discuss this article on the Salone Forum Salone Forum
By Daily Mail
I see a need for some deeper investigation to go on here. This case is lacking on key facts related to the murder. Or am I reading it wrong?
anyway right or wrong if its about INJUSTICE I am all in bra
But I think that you should have some lawyers appearing on his behalf if he cannot afford a lawyer who would enforce his rights to a speedy trial if any such rights exist in sierra leone, in the books or in practice. Human Rights Lawyers should have visited him by now, interviewed him and filed for a “habeas corpus” petition before the Higher courts and seek his release on his own recognizance which is unlikely in a prosecution for murder, or in the alternative reasonable bail to ensure his appearance. The appeal should go not to the Minister of Justice who is ostensibly the prosecutor, but to a higher court for a determination and ruling on whether this mans constitutional rights have been violated and whether he stays or walks. These are the things that must happen in environments where lawyering is art form practiced only by the inquisitive mind, and not the “han to mot” practice that does exist in sierra leone.
When you address these issues to the minister of justice you politicize the issue. This is not a political issue crimes were allegedly committed and it is up to the prosecutor to prove so. There must be a clear separation of powers here. The minister of Justice belongs to the Executive. Should he also belong to the Judiciary as a Prosecutor on behalf of the state? Doesn’t that violate the separation of powers clause where all are supposed to be independent of each other. It should be the case that the position of Minister of Justice and Attorney General should be separate functions since both belong to two different parts of the three prong Power paradigm.
The information sent to this press by Abdul Kargbo is totally false and lack sincerity. The people of Rokel Village, TMS Chiefdom, PortLoko District are very violent, they went on killing two innocent strong young men of Konikay Village hoping that this their brother, Abdul Kargbo who stays in USA will spend money and save them from prosecution. The truth is that one day justice must prevail even if he spends all the money in the world.
Thank God, there is now a new George who can not take mess as the previous ones. This case has been there for over four years without even been called for trial because this same Abdul Kargbo is busy spending money. one day time will tell and justice will surely take its course.
Am so sorry with the readers who does not know the truth about the whole fact, and I dont have enough time now to enlighten you.
Bye and lets allow justice to take it course.
You cant call what you have in contemporary Sierra Leone a Justice Department because frankly speaking,it is a huge joke.
My recollection of a real Justice Department is a place in the 60s staffed by veterans like Nasiru Deen Tejan-Cole and others as they were an enbodiment of the concept of justice and natural law.