Reacting to a letter written by convicts of the Special Court about serving their jail term in Rwanda, the Acting Registrar of the Special Court Binta Mansaray has stated that they “a responsible court” adding that the prisons in Rwanda have advanced facilities and this is an indication that the court is not just dumping people anywhere.
She reiterated that wherever they (convicts) serve their sentences would be a place that meets the international minimum standards.
Mrs. Mansaray stated further that the courts always maintain international minimum standards in terms of treatment of prisoners “so wherever convicts are serving their sentences we would make sure that that country or prison facility meets international minimum standards in every respect … we are a responsible court” she said.
The decision of the place where the convict should serve their jail term the Acting Registrar disclosed is a judicial decision which is made only by the President of the Special Court and it is non-negotiable. It is a decision that lies within the powers of the President of the Court it is not an administrative function.
She added that “Prior to arriving at her decision the President of the Special Court took into consideration several factors and then made her decision so its not for me or anyone else to decide as to where (the convicts will) serve their sentences, the only person who has those powers is the President of the Special Court.”
It was also disclosed by the Acting Registrar of the court that arrangements would be made for family members to visit the convicts but that is not a rule by most international courts “so we don’t have an obligation to do that but the special court is trying to make sure that there is a family visit wherever they are serving their sentences.”
Speaking about the visit of the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Mrs. Mansaray said that “the SLPP delegation visited me as administrative head to seek clarifications and to discuss the letters the prisoners wrote to me which was copied to them concerning where they will serve their sentences. They came to me and they want to seek clarification on the letter so they came to me. As a judicial institution we are transparent and open we receive any individual or group who may wish to seek clarification on matters of interest to them so that is why I met with the delegation that came.”
She went on “they had questions about the detention facility in Rwanda we explained to them that the detention facility meets international minimum standards and they appealed for the president to review her decision and I said to them that I will convey the message to the president and I also made it clear to them that judicial proceedings of the special court are not negotiable.”
As to the date for the departure of the convicts the Acting Registrar said that no one in the court can tell the exact date for the departure of the convicts.
By Betty Milton
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