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Sierra Leone: Minister Desperate to Jail Editor
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Concord Times (Freetown)
27 March 2008
Posted to the web 28 March 2008
Rachel Horner and Kevin Hill
Freetown
Transport and aviation minister seems desperate to jail Jonathan Leigh, after he denied accusations levied against him by managing editor of Independent Observer newspaper in a series of articles printed in January of this year.
Ibrahim Kemoh Sesay's denials in court came in the trial of Mr. Leigh, who could face up to 7 years imprisonment if found guilty under Sierra Leone's criminal libel and defamation. These laws punish those who are found guilty of "injuring the reputation" of government officials.
The minister dismissed claims made in the Freetown based newspaper including building a mansion in the first two months after taking office, accepting all-expenses paid to travel to Morocco, returning from an official visit to London with 25 cases of luggage, benefiting from 'flag of convenience' arrangements.
He also denied claims of immoral behavior, including being divorced three times, having 6 children and a pregnant girlfriend.
The Minister agreed he travelled to Morocco, but as part of an official visit to negotiate a bilateral air service agreement between Sierra Leone and Morocco to establish a local air carrier in the country.
When asked about his reaction to the accusations in the Independent Observer, Sesay said, "a lot of people talked to me about these articles, including the head of state. If what is said is true, then I am not qualified to be a minister." The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has recently filed a lawsuit with Sierra Leone's Supreme Court, seeking to overturn Sierra Leone's criminal libel and false news laws.
The Association sees the laws as open to abuse by those in power, endangering the freedom of expression necessary for journalists to keep the public informed.
The tiny, poorly ventilated, court room No.5 was packed with observers, including deputy minister of education, youth and sports Dr. Algassimu Jah. As the Minister left the courtroom, a crowd of supporters followed.
Lawyer for the accused Ibrahim Sorie Koroma asked for an adjournment in order to prepare a cross examination of the Minister.
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The court case was adjourned to Wednesday, April 3.
Ibrahim Kemoh Sesay, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Transport and Aviation involved in this case must be suspended from office in the spirit of democracy and creating a fair level playing field for him and Jonathan Leigh. In this case Jonathan Leigh can be guaranteed a fair trial. Government Ministers and their functionaries must understand that the old order of doing things in the country can no longer be tolerated. If President Koroma is determined to fight corruption in the country, he should suspend Kemoh Sesay while investigations and court processes continue. This does not mean that Kemoh Sesya is guilty... [Read Full Text]
talking about corruption in Sierra Leone.
One of the high court george by the name of Patrick Hamulton is using a fake law cerificate from NIGERIA. He was studing ecomics at FBC,but couldnt make it. FBC then kick him like a football out of FBC. HE then went to NIGERIA,came back to Sierra Leone after three years with a law certificate. How is this possible. Then he started convicting people at the cline town magistrate court with out a law certificate. Is this right.
This is a breaking news. The gov must call him for his certificate. Anti-corruption. let him... [Read Full Text]
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