News

By Francis H. Murray

Roland Wright, the lead defense lawyer for Saa Anthony Sinnah, the second accused in the ongoing treason trial at the High Court in Freetown, has told the twelve-member jury that the prosecution failed to adduce any evidence in support of the charges in the indictment filed against his client.

Addressing the jury on Tuesday, Wright noted that to assassinate the President constitutes murder and does not amount to treason and that it would only become treason when it involves overthrowing an entire government.

By Kemo Cham

The pan-African anti-Malaria campaign in Sierra Leone is celebrating the two years anniversary of the continental initiative amidst pledges of renewed commitments to tackle the parasitic disease.

The ‘Zero Malaria Starts with Me’ campaign, an African Union initiative, seeks to end transmission of the disease which is considered as one of the top killers on the continent.

Malaria is particularly devastating for children and pregnant women. Africa accounts for over 90 percent of global cases and deaths.

By Prince J Musa in Kenema

The Inspector General of the Sierra Leone Police, Ambrose Sovula, has urged police officers in Kenema to endeavor to serve as example in enforcing COVID-19 regulations. During a visit in the district last weekend, the police chief said officers would not be able to enforce the law on facemasks if they don’t wear one, themselves.

By Kemo Cham

The Sierra Leone government has announced the disbursement of the final instalment of payment of retirement benefits to ex-officials who served in the administration of former President Ernest Bai Koroma.

The government in a statement issued through the Ministry of Finance on Monday said the money meant for the former president, his vice president and cabinet ministers, among others, represented the remaining 50 percent of what they were owed as end of service benefits and gratuities.

By Umaru Fofana

The Senegalese authorities last week dismantled what they refer to as a human trafficking ring just outside the capital, Dakar.

All 87 people nabbed in the operation are Sierra Leoneans – 72 of them young women who were said to be being trafficked to an unnamed Gulf country.

By Francis H. Murray

The ongoing trial of former defense minister Alfred Paolo Conteh and two others for treason and other offences could end today at the High Court in Freetown with both the prosecution and defense due to address the jury this morning.

During the course of the trial Justice Momoh Jah Stevens dismissed a ‘‘no case’’ submission on behalf of the first accused on the grounds that treason was a serious offence hence prudent to hear both sides of the case.

By Prince J Musa in Kenema

Bo and Kenema are set for massive electricity network expansion in preparation for the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) project. Last week the Minister of Energy, Kanja Sesay led a team to deliver 16 truckloads of wooden electrical poles for both districts. The Minister said the project was part of President Julius Maada Bio’s promise to end the challenge of electricity across the country.