Concord Times (Freetown)
21 August 2008
By Mohamed Vandi in Kenema SLPP Member of Parliament representing constituency 15 in the Ngorama Mende and Fallah Wando chiefdoms has questioned police for unlawfully detaining ten chiefdom authorities in Kenema.
Dr Brima Morie Kamanda said it was unconstitutional to detain suspects with out bail for more than 72 hours for a crime that was not capital.
He said he was in Freetown when he got information that some sub chiefs, court clerk and other local authorities of the chiefdoms have been arrested and detained at the Kenema police station for allegedly burning down a secret society (ojeh) hut in Fallah Wandon.
Dr. Kamanada said he travelled to Kenema immediately and pleaded with the police to release suspects whom he said were already languishing in cell for five days.
His request was, however, turned down by local unit commander Joseph Kabia who also refused to grant bail to one of the ailing chiefs.
"This is a violation of human rights because the law says that you should always presume someone innocent until proven guilty in the law court. The police said the resident magistrate was not in town. But are the people going to remain in cell until she comes back?" Chiefdom speaker of Fallah Wandon Siaka Sandy Bonjon said his colleague chiefs were arrested for a crime they knew nothing about.
He said as authorities of the locality they were not aware or have never approved the existence of any 'ojeh' society in the chiefdom.
"Since the seventies, no 'ojeh' activity has ever taken place in our community. We know of 'wonday, poro' for men and 'bondo' for women. It is unfair to keep traditional authorities in custody for five days without bail," he said.
The police superintendent has confirmed that suspects have been in detention for five days but that they were still waiting for the state counsel to advise.
Kabia said the matter was a felonious crime and therefore the suspects could not be granted bail.
He said the chiefdom was notorious for violence during and after the recent elections and that it was high-time the perpetrators are taught a serious lesson.
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