As an effort to ensure the expeditious trial of all electoral offences, the Judiciary of Sierra Leone in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme on Tuesday officially launched a compendium of electoral laws at the High Court.
The Compendium, according to Chief Justice Abdulai Charm, contains the relevant electoral and related laws which include the 1991 constitution of Sierra Leone, Public Order Act 1965, High Court Rule 2007, Chieftaincy Act 2009 and the Election Petition 2007 and related laws.
Justice Charm while deliberating on the several activities of the Judiciary to ensure smooth, efficient, speedy trial and the quick dispensation of justice stated that “Efficient and speedy trials are essential to diffuse the tension and passion that are sparked by election disputes and the compendium will serve as reference materials for all users to enhance the expeditious trials of matters that would come up during the electoral cycle.”
The Chief Justice further added that the electoral offences courts are only concern with criminal matter as designated in the Public Elections Act 2012.
“Petitions that may come up from paramount chieftaincy and parliamentary elections will be handle by the regular High Court and petitions following elections are reserve for the Supreme Court.” Chief Justice stated.
Explaining the composition of the electoral courts and the presiding judges in the various regions across the country, Chief Justice Charm told the gathering that each judge should be professionally independent and responsible for his or her decisions any dissatisfied party has a right of appeal to the Court of Appeal.
Samuel Doe, UNDP representative in his statement while launching the Compendium of electoral laws highlighted the relevance of the need for users to have access to and knowledge about such law.
Doe explained the role of the judiciary as a central defence to uphold democracy and the need for effective delivering legal justice.
The UNDP spoke on the importance of access to justice and effective justice system to mitigate and settle electoral disputes to foster national development.
Doe talked about his organisation’s effort in working with several institutions for free, fair and peaceful 2018 elections.
SV/21/11/17
By Sylvia Villa
Wednesday November 22, 2017.
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