By Septimus Senessie in Kono
The Sierra Leone Police have been accused of bias after it emerged that they have dropped investigation on the attack of the mayor of Koidu City, Saa Emerson Lamina.
Mayor Lamina, who remains suspended over a separate matter between his administration and the Ministry of Local Government, was attacked in broad day light in February while on air at the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation studios by suspected APC supporters. At least three suspects have been identified but the police have not made any arrests. And last week Police at the Tankoro Police Division told Politico they had dropped the investigation due to lack of evidence.
Chief Superintendent David Sahid Koroma, Local Unit Commander of the Tankoro Police Division, said he had to release the vehicle that served as a key evidence of the investigation to the acting mayor to ease transportation difficulties faced by the Council. He wouldn’t say on whose orders he released the vehicle, only said that he didn’t want to lose his job.
“The attack on the mayor is a highly political matter to pursue and I need to maintain my position,” he said.
The incident left the windscreen of the Mayor’s official vehicle, which was parked outside the studios, smashed. The attackers stormed their way into the SLBC studios where the staff has confirmed that their computers were damaged.
Mayor Lamina was subsequently suspended amidst separate investigations over financial impropriety at the Koidu City Council, and a new Acting mayor was installed. Lamina, who has linked to attack on him to his suspension, has since identified three key suspects, namely: Kai Moiba, who is said to be the Deputy Chairman of Kono District APC Youth League; Aiah Gborie, a former driver to Paramount Chief Paul Saquee of Tankoro Chiefdom; and Mohamed Sawaneh, former Personal Assistant to the Kono District Council Chairman.
The Mayor, who has not been to Kono since his highly controversial suspension about a month ago, said in a telephone interview that no matter how long it took for justice to take its course, he was confident that it would happen.
“Justice does not [get] rot, no matter the duration of delays. I will continue to pursue my case until I get justice and this should be known to all that justice for one is justice for all,” he said.
Some civil society activists in the district have condemned the police’s action. They accused the police of “dancing to the tune of politicians” and warned that this had the tendency of to undermining the security of the country.
Berns Komba Lebbie, District Coordinator of the Leadership Efficiency and Advocacy for Development (LEAD), said the release of the vehicle that was the key evidence in the investigations and allowing the suspected perpetrators to move freely “clearly exposed the nicked biasness of the Sierra Leone Police in the enforcement of the laws.”
He said it also showed “how politicians have been remote controlling and misusing it [police] to turn justice against their opponents.”
Lebbie recalled that in 2014 over 15 youths believed to be loyal to sacked Vice President Samuel Sam-Sumana were arrested by police “on orders from above” for alleged violence against his [Sumana] political opponents.
“Why similar action shouldn’t be taken against those who allegedly attacked a sitting mayor and damaged the doors of SLBC’s studios, computers and the vehicle of the mayor”? Mr. Lebbie enquired.
His colleague activist, Ibrahim Sahr Ahmed Bockarie, the District Coordinator of Campaign for Just Mining (CJM), said they were concerned about the security of the ordinary Sierra Leoneans who have no influence in their decisions if the police can compromise a high profile matter involving an elected mayor.
“It is unprofessional for the police to drop such matter without letting the perpetrators face the force of the law,” he said.
Their umbrella body, the Kono District Civil Society Network, has earlier refused to comment on the attack on the mayor and still maintained that silence.
Some people have linked the alleged attackers to the former minister of Local Government, Finda Diana Konomanyi. Both Ms Konomanyi and Mr Lamina have been involved in a rivalry that is believed to have influenced her decision to suspend him.
According to sources, their brawl stemmed from a disagreement over the conduct of football in the district.
But Konomanyi, who has since been redeployed to the Ministry of Lands and Country Planning during President Ernest Bai Koroma’s recent cabinet reshuffle, has denied allegations of witch-hunt.
(C) Politico 13/04/16
