By Saio Marrah
Justice Komba Kamanda of Sexual Offences Court in Freetown has said that all prisoners have human rights. He was speaking after an accused sexual penetrator, 18 year- old Zakaria Jalloh of Banga Farm in Waterloo, said that his colleague prisoners mercilessly beat him up at the Pademba Road maximum correctional centre in Freetown.
Justice Kamanda pointed this out during Zakaria's trial at court No.7 of the main law court building in Freetown on Tuesday 28 March 2023.
He said no one should be subjected to torture, not even a prisoner, and that a prisoner involved in the act against their fellow prisoners should be charged for such an offence.
He also ordered the Director of Correctional Service to ensure proper medical attention was provided to the accused who was a commercial minibus driver on the Jui-Lumley route before his arrest.
Standing in the dock, the accused said that on the night before coming to court, his colleague prisoners beat him up because they accused him of causing noise in the cell.
He said the torture resulted in him experiencing severe pains all over his body especially his ribs.
Answering a question from the presiding judge as to whether he lodged a complaint about the incident to the head of the correctional service in the morning, he said his assailants first complained him before he could do so.
As a result, the prison officers tied his hands up put handcuffs on them while shaking it continually to a point it seriously injured his wrist.
The alleged sexual offender of an 11 year old girl, had black scars on his face and could barely walk upright.
The accused was standing on trial for sexual penetration recorded between 1st March and 31st March 2020, and repeated the act against the same victim on the 1st December and 2nd December 2021.
The case was adjourned to tomorrow Thursday 30th March 2023. Justice Kamanda promised a follow up on whether medical treatment would have been given to the accused.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (29/03/23)
