By Prince Musa
Despite efforts to address the situation, overcrowding in correctional centers in Kenema, eastern Sierra Leone continues to affect its smooth operation, an official has said.
Alfred Emmanuel Hassan, Public Relation Officer at the Kenema Correctional Center, said there were presently 270 inmates in custody at the male correctional centre alone. He told Politico in an interview that out of this figure, 68 were high court matters and only 25 of them had been indicted and were set to go to court.
Hassan said this year alone he had on two different occasions presented the list of those inmates who did not have indictment to the clerk of the high court, requesting that it be taken to the master and registrar for action. He said this had still not been done.
Commenting on the death of one inmate under custody, Jusu Swarray, Hassan said the inmate had died from natural causes, citing medical report he claimed he had seen. He said the victim was suffering from some pain before his arrival at the correctional centre. He said he (victim) had also undergone medical operation before coming to the prison after been accused of sexual offense.
© Politico 26/09/16
