Although the dust on the ugly events following the commissioning of the Clock Tower seems to have settled, no investigative report from the police is yet available. As a follow –up the Chairman of the Opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) John Benjamin has written a letter to the Director of Complaints, Disciplinary, Internal Investigations Department (CDIID) Chief Superintendent of Police F.U.K. Daboh to seek an update on their investigations. The SLPP Party made formal against police personnel attached to State House, led by Police Constable Idrissa Kamara (a.k.a. Leather boot).
The letter dated April 20 2009 states that Leather boot unlawfully broke into the premises of the party at 13 Wallace Johnson Street, ahead of other members of the Presidential Guards, and other revelers purported to be supporters of the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) party on Monday, March 16th, 2009.
The letter , signed by John Benjamin, reads, Sir; you may recall that the ugly incident of reference has caused our party and most Sierra Leoneans great consternation, given the unprovoked and barbaric nature of the attack on our members and the wanton destruction of property.
“You will also recall that the egregious nature of this conduct of armed service personnel makes it most unfortunate, thereby requiring internal investigation by your department”, states the letter.
The letter continues Sir, you will also agree that the Truth & Reconciliation Commission set up following the Lome Peace Accord to look into the sources of the eleven year barbaric conflict that rocked Sierra Leone, revealed one of the sources of bitterness in the country was the gross impunity for egregious actions committed by members of the armed forces during the years preceding the civil war.
“It was with this in mind that the erstwhile SLPP-led Government set up the Complaints, Disciplinary, Internal Investigations Department (CDIID) of the Sierra Leone Police which you currently head as Director”, the letter adds
The CDIID has the mandate to internally investigate acts of indiscipline by any serving police officer including even the Inspector General of Police.
The letter intimidated that the published mandate of the CDIID assures members of the civilian public that their complaints against serving Police Officers would be taken with all seriousness.
It states “We recall several such pronouncements from your Department and we also recall the fact that, in the recent past, when Police Officers are accused of such serious egregious violent acts against civilians, such police officers are usually sent on immediate suspension pending the outcome of investigations”.
The letter appeals that with all the foregoing, SLPP is now seriously constrained to understand how come the CDIID, under Mr. Daboh’s leadership as Director, can hope to inspire confidence from the civilian populace. ‘We are constrained to buy into the public whisper that the CDIID, under your leadership has shoved the matter under the carpet’ the letter. We therefore urge you to make public the findings of your investigations, if indeed such has been conducted, if only to allay the fears of your compatriots who have been led to believe that the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) is aiding and abetting the violent crimes that have been meted out on our membership for political reasons,’ the letter concludes
ADVERTISEMENT