By Mabinty M. Kamara
The United Nations in Sierra Leone has urged the government to swiftly investigate the alleged prison break attempt at the maximum security prisons at Pademba Road in Freetown.
Twelve people were killed in the incident that also left properties within the prison facility destroyed.
”The United Nation in Sierra Leone recalls the commitment made by the government of Sierra Leone, under international convention and treaties, including the Nelson Mandela Rules, to protect and respect the human rights of all persons deprived of their liberty. It calls for prompt and full investigations into the incident so that the perpetrators of the violence maybe brought to justice,” a statement signed by the UN Resident Coordinator, Suni Saighal reads.
Details of events surrounding the incident have varied with rights groups putting pressure on government to investigate and provide an explanation.
The two major political parties - ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party and main opposition All Peoples Congress have both dialed tensions up a notch with deeply polarizing rhetoric concerning the incident.
Just a day after the incident which happened last week Thursday, Vice President, Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, visited the prison and promised an investigation into the incident.
“We are moving for speedy rehabilitation to put the facility back to full use. And expect investigations to rapidly provide detailed insight and recommendations,” he told the media following the conclusion of his visit.
The facility where the incident occurred holds prominent opposition figures including the former Minister of Defense, Alfred Paolo Conteh who is on trial for treason.
Their lawyers have expressed concerns about the safety of their clients in the midst of all the chaos.
Lawyers representing some of the politicians wrote to the Correctional Service authorities expressing concerns about the safety of their clients.
“As you can well imagine, we have been bombarded with frantic calls from our client’s families, inquiring as to whether they have been injured and asking us to confirm information being reported on social media that they have been moved and are now being held at various other locations,” a letter from Serry –Kamal & Co to the Director of Correctional Service reads.
Serry Kamal & Co is the law firm representing Major Conteh.
“We would be most grateful if you could kindly confirm in writing or by calling my number below so that we can in turn reassure our client’s families and well-wishers of their current status,” it added.
The Minister of Information told Politico on the day of the incident that high profile prisoners were safe. Politico also understands that on the day of the incident, they were relocated to a smaller facility within the capital and they have been there since.
Court sittings in Sierra Leone have been suspended for a month by the judiciary, since a COVID- 19 case was discovered in the prison last week.
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