News

By Francis H. Murray

The Sierra Leone Judiciary is set to open a special court on sexual offenses today at the Law Courts Building in Freetown. The court will be used to try all cases of sexual offenses at the level of a High Court.

The special fast-track court is expected to try all sexual offense cases which have gone through preliminary investigations at the Magistrate court and have invoked Section 136 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, which gives high court jurisdiction over a matter.

By Prince J Musa in Kenema

Police at Family Support Unit in Kenema have arrested five people in connection with allegations of the rape of a 21-year-old woman. The breastfeeding mother of a two-month-old baby, who lost her husband recently, was allegedly raped in Deima section, Kenema District.

The four men and one woman suspects in custody are Alhaji Tarawally, Vandi Kamara, Mohamed Sandi, Kamoh Issa and his wife Tenneh Issa. A sixth suspect who is a male is said to be on the run, police have confirmed to Politico.

By Mabinty M. Kamara 

A 16-year-old boy has spent a month in police detention at the Approved School facility in Wellington without charge. Police say he was arrested on the 24 June after he had been reported to the Approved School Police Station for allegedly raping a girl who is also 16 years old.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

It was a historic day in Parliament yesterday when the House repealed the 55-year-old Criminal and Seditious Libel law which was part of the Public Order Act of 1965.

Just after 6:00 PM the House unanimously agreed to expunge the criminal defamation provisions. They also amended the Independent Media Act after eight hours of debate. The amended law will serve as a safeguard in the post repeal era.

By Kemo Cham

President Julius Maada Bio has appointed Mohamed Konneh, a financial crime investigation expert, as head of the National Electoral Commission (NEC).

Mr Konneh was named in a press statement issued on Monday. The statement signed by Presidential Secretary Dr Julius Sandy, said the appointment is subject to parliamentary approval.

By Mabinty M. Kamara

Child advocate, Makalay Saidiatu Sonda is calling for support to get a community library for children in Kori Chiefdom in the Southern district of Moyamba.

Mrs Sonda is the Founder and Director of a child advocacy group, Moonteen, a community-based organisation which focuses on the education of teenagers and adolescent boys and girls, with programmes in mentoring and teaching of reproductive health in schools.

By Mabinty M. Kamara

The Fulla Tribal Administration, Western Area has demanded for an apology from the Minister of Lands and Country Planning, Dr. Denis Sandy for publicly accusing their Youth leader, Chernor Issa Jalloh of attempting to harm him using black magic.

In a video on social media last week, Dr Sandy alleges that Mr. Jalloh went to his ministry to attack him with some black magic in a bid to kill him.