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Momodou
Denmark
11804 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Mar 2010 : 21:39:19
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Lawyer Martin Bemoans Plight of Inmate Detained for 13 Years
By Fabakary B. Ceesay on 10-03-10
Mr. Assan Martin, a human rights lawyer has informed Foroyaa that he has come across a prisoner at Mile 2 Prison, who has been in custody for 13 years without any charges preferred against him.
Mr. Martin said he discovered that the prisoner was arrested in 1997 and is still languishing in prison at Mile 2.
In an interview with Foroyaa on Monday 8th March, Lawyer Martin said in his efforts to visit the prison and provide legal representation to detained prisoners on human right basis, he came across a Senegalese national called Mr. Abdourahman Baldeh who told him that he was arrested since 31st July 1997, alongside four Gambians, who were released since 1999. Martin indicated that he was told by prisoner Baldeh that he has never been brought to any court of law and is yet to be charged with any offence.
The former magistrate stressed that he is on the verge of writing a petition to the Attorney General’s Chambers to review the detention of Mr. Baldeh and for the authorities to release him as they are yet to link him to any evidence of a crime he might have committed. He added that there are defects in the Justice system that needs to be remedied. He noted that the state should not detain innocent people without evidence to try them. He asserted that many people have suffered a great loss of liberty without any compensation from the government. He called on the authorities to correct such miscarriage of Justice which arose as a result of detaining people for years without trial.
The Former Magistrate finally called on the authorities to visit prisons to review the condition of prisoners there. He suggested that the state should provide doctors that will visit prisons on weekly basis to asses the health conditions of Prisoners.
He finally called for a reform of the country’s criminal justice system.
Source: Foroyaa Online
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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