The Chief Justice, Desmond B. Edwards, called on the authorities of the Correctional Service to treat inmates in a more decent and respectful manner. “They are our inmates and we must ensure that they are protected.” He made such disclosure on Friday 18 January 2019, during the official closing of the November 2018 criminal Session of the High Court of Sierra Leone, in Freetown. According to allegations, senior Correctional Officers are the immediate beneficiaries of items meant for the prisoners leaving inmates to feed on leftovers. The Government and its partners are spending billions of Leones in those Centres, in terms of food, sanitation and medications for the inmates but, according to many, all those facilities and items are being enjoyed by some senior personnel. The Chief Justice noted that the accommodation situation of the inmates is appalling. He said the authorities need to do more in order to meet the Mandela Rules. He said the prison cells are congested, based on the figure that was given by Superintendent Jonathan Wilson during his jail delivery and statement. According to the Superintendent the minimum inmates per cell in their Centres is four, emphasising that they are constrained with overcrowding. Justice Edwards maintained, “What we have there in the Centre is chaotic.” He pointed out that there should be one inmate per cell and also should be provided with other facilities to keep him or her comfortable. He added that every inmate is entitled to one hour of exercise every day and admonished the Centre officers to uphold such right of the inmates. He underscored that “they are our, inmates, we send them there and they should be well taken care of, and not to be tortured.” He promised to visit the Correctional Centre to ascertain the authenticity of the information given by the Welfare Officer of the Centre.
MJB/21/1/19
By Mohamed J. Bah
Tuesday January 22, 2019.