By Ruth Yeabu Sesay
A usually reliable police source has told Politico that two people, a man and a woman have been arrested in connection with the fire that destroyed electricity poles in the Tombo area in the Freetown Peninsula. Our source says a team of experienced detectives is on the ground now to continue the investigation. The police source refused to be drawn on the identity of those now detained. Politico understands that 50 poles were destroyed.
By Abass Jalloh
Women in the districts of Kenema, Port Loko, Pujehun and Tonkolili have expressed satisfaction and support for the Customary Land Rights Act and Land Rights Commission Act, noting that these laws have helped them become aware knowledgeable on issues concerning land and their livelihoods as women.
By Abass Jalloh
Executive Director of Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA) Paul S. Massaquoi and five other officials of the institution have been acquitted and discharged of all corruption charges at a Freetown High Court. Justice Mohamed Bawoh, at the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court No. 5 freed Massaquoi and the other men who had faced five counts of corruption offences allegedly committed during their tenure of office.
By Saio Marrah
Parliament of Sierra Leone has approved a total of over 50 million dollars deal for Agricultural value chain development project, of which 15 million dollars is a loan from the OPEC Fund for International Development.
The 15 million dollar loan is for the implementation of rural agricultural production feeder roads.
The grant and loan agreement got ratified with five other agreements on Wednesday 21st December, 2022, were tabled in Parliament on Monday 19th December this year.
By Mada Augustine Ngombu
The Public Relations Manager at the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA) Sierra Leone, Lansana Fofanah has informed the public of the availability of diesel in the market, but admitted low supply of petrol, which he said prompted the agency to put out a press release .
Lansana said that on the 14th of December they received 18,000 tons of diesel and on the following day 15,000 tons of petrol and that they were expecting the arrival of 3,000 tons more petrol.
By Abass Jalloh
Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown has sentenced 43 protesters to 24 months for offence of malicious damage, 18 months for riotous conduct, 12 months for disorderly behavior, and six months for throwing missiles, and loitering after they were found guilty of committing various public order offences in the anti-government protests in Sierra Leone on 10th August 2022. The sentences are to run concurrently and should be per offence.
By Abass Jalloh
Justice Adrian Fisher of High Court No. 1 in Freetown has quashed the sentences handed down on LAJ’s two brothers and nine others by Magistrate Mark Ngegba for Riotous Conduct and Disorderly behaviour. Eight of them received reduced prison term while three were acquitted and discharged by the judge.
The 11convicts had earlier appealed their imprisonment following their arrest and conviction for allegedly protesting in a disorderly manner over the detention by Police of the musician.
Supported by: Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)
