By Nasratu Kargbo
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Francis Musa Foday who was shown in a video hitting a man whose one arm had handcuffs around the wrist, has reportedly been suspended. A letter from the Regional Police Commander South, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Edward Samadia addressed to the officer, stated he was being suspended in accordance with the force’s disciplinary code of 2001.
The incident which took place in Zimmi, Pujehun district early this week caused public consternation, and youths in the area had to be constrained by local leaders, from going on the rampage.
The letter said: “You are hereby suspended from duty with immediate effect for the under mentioned disciplinary offences for which you are being investigated at the CDIID RHQ South”.
He was accused of lacking “civility to any member of the public and prejudicial to good order and discipline”.
In the letter, the Mano River Division of the Police, stationed close to the Liberian border was ordered to ensure that officer Foday handed over all Police property such as I.D cards and other badges of identification. He was also ordered to report to the Police disciplinary department or CDIID Bo West Police Station, on a daily basis.
The queried officer in the video could be seen slapping, kicking and verbally abusing the man identified as Michael. Foday was apparently questioning Michael’s presence in the customs’ corridors, repeatedly saying he was not a customs officer and had no ID and was not on official payroll.
However, it has not yet been fully established what led to the beating of the civilian man. There is a lot of trans-border trade and commuting along the frontier, which for many people living in those areas, have become daily routine. The improved road network has increased commercial activities between Liberia and Sierra Leone in recent times.
Copyright © Politico Online 29/10/21
