By Abass Jalloh
The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) has demanded from the police that they be given unhindered access to the holding facility known as ‘Benghazi’ at the OSD headquarters at Kingharman Road in Freetown.
This came in the wake of the detention there and the alleged maltreatment of rapper Alhaji Amadu Bah and others, in relation to an alleged robbery incident at Leonco Gas station at Congo Cross some on 12 June.
In a press release, the commission says it wants to ascertain “whether the facility meets reasonable standards and is not a torture chamber or that the facility is dissolved forthwith”.
Another rights group, Human Rights Defenders of Sierra Leone has also called for an investigation into the existence of Benghazi.
LAJ who had his dreadlocks shaved off while in detention there, an act that has been roundly condemned by campaigners and some sections of the public.
In a more intense reaction since a BBC interview with the police chief on Monday concerning LAJ’s detention, members of the public were more concerned with the reasons given by the Inspector General Ambrose Sovula justifying the haircut.
Sovula said it was part of the police SOP “because of the hygiene of the place”. The IG said LAJ believed he had been arrested unjustly and had wanted to use his long hair to strangle himself.
He claimed LAJ went to a filling station to purchase fuel and that “he snatched the bag from the pump attendant, gave him a merciless beating, jumped into his vehicle and drove off”.
The musician made his first appearance at the Pademba Road Magistrate court on Monday charged with four counts including robbery with violence. He was represented by lawyers including Madieu Sesay while Y. I Sesay represented the state.
State prosecutor, I.Y. Sesay vehemently opposed the bail application by the defence on the grounds that the accused was facing very serious charges and that he would not only interfere with witnesses for the state but was likely to jump bail.
He was remanded at the Pademba Road Correctional Centre in Freetown by magistrate Sahr Kekura. The matter resumes today.
The Independent Police Complaints Board in a statement said it was looking at reports that LAJ was subjected to inhumane treatment.
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