In a happy mood the former Spokesman of the defunct Revolutionary United Front (RUF), Omrie Michael Golley, yesterday walked in freedom from the Padama Road Prison precisely at 11am.
In an interview with Awoko Mr Golley said, “thank God I am alive and I am happy to see this day.”
He stated that, “I must say I am appreciative of the actions of this government in reviewing my case which is right that we are not guilty of the actions which the previous government charged us with.”
Mr Golley, who was arrested with two others Alpha Bar and David Kai Tongi, said “we were kept at the Aberdeen Police Station for a longer time than prescribed by law, we were arrested without a warrant, our appeal in the Supreme Court was not heard and our fundamental constitutional and legal rights were not respected, we were also kept for too long and detained which is a violation of our constitutional right.”
He went on, “our constitutional and fundamental rights were not respected, for us it was not an issue of the case we felt our fundamental problems with our situation was our inability to get a fair trial which was essential for our case. We never concerned ourselves with the charges because we knew if we were able to get a fair trial we will be able to dispose of the charges very quickly.”
“What we were very concerned about was whether we were to be given a fair trial or not but what happened to us became clear to us from the beginning that we would not have a fair trial and that was the issue,” he went on.
On time spent at the Pademba Road Prisons the former spokesman said, “I have been in prison for over 21 months leading to 22 months close to 2 years for nothing. The condition at Pademba Road is horrific, the facilities terrible in terms of food and medical support. There are lots of people there who should not be there for instance children under the age of 16.”
Before he we released from Prison, Mr Golley had been complaining of various illnesses. “I have a health problem, and I am looking forward to traveling at the nearest opportunity to receive treatment overseas. I have severe high blood pressure, chest pain and I would like to know the cause of that. After my medical I will come back, Sierra Leone is my country. I have a dual British-Sierra Leonean nationality. My contribution to the country is such in the peace process where I played significant role and I will continue despite what happened to me.”
Golley and two others were charged with treason.