Sierra Leone News: Police Accused of Disregarding Obligation

By Stephen V. Lansana

Civil society organisations and the main opposition party have accused the Sierra Leone Police of disregarding their obligation following violent incidents in the bye-election in Constituency 110 in Western Area Rural District on August 24, 2019, which led to the cancellation of the election.

The National Election Watch (NEW), a consortium of civil society organisations, said in statement that “despite the heavy security presence and the invocation of MACP, polling stations were invaded and election materials destroyed and perpetrators not arrested.”

“Elections in the country have become characterized by unbridled violence and lawlessness,” NEW said.

The National Secretary General of the All People Congress (APC) party, Alhaji Ambassador Dr. Osman Foday Yansaneh said that their supporters suffered extreme forms of intimidation and harassment “from the thugs of the ruling SLPP led by a renowned thug nicknamed “Arata”. APC said that the thugs went on the rampage across the constituency during polling day reaching its climax at the Sarah Modern School Polling Centre in Angola Town under the watchful eyes of the Sierra Leone Police and military officers.

“Sadly, even though the police under the leadership of AIG Sovulla were kept duly informed by the leadership of the APC, instead of apprehending the perpetrator of the violence, it was Hon. Abdul Kargbo of the APC, head of the APC polling staff at the Centre that was illegally arrested and detained at the Lumley Police Station.”

Also, a WhatsApp video which circulated social media clearly shown a group of men destroying ballot boxes in the presence of police officers, but no attempt was made to arrest the perpetrators.

The United Nations in Sierra Leone has also expressed concern over the violent incidents that occurred in one of the polling centres in Constituency 110, during the bye-elections, leading to damage to properties, including schools.

The United Nations has called for a prompt investigation of the incidents so that perpetrators of violence may be brought to justice.

The Regional Commander of Freetown West, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Ambrose Sovula claimed that they deployed at least one or two police officers to a polling station, adding that they were having sufficient personnel at the stations, but because of the public outcry about the presence of security personnel, they deployed the general duty police at the entrance of the center.

Speaking on the violence at Sarah Modern Preparatory, he said that the polling center was very small to hold the 10 polling station, and that there were 80 party agents in that center excluding the observers and polling staff. He said that when the incident happened, they were called opon, but the general duty officers present were overwhelmed, adding that before they arrived, the perpetrators have already caused mayhem at the center. He said that they came with more reinforcement to handle the situation, adding that situation would have terrible.

He said that on arrival, someone was arrested on the accusation that he was caring ballot box, adding that another person dropped his Voter ID Card while running with a ballot box. He said that they invited the CID to institute investigation.

He said that Hon. Abdul Karim Kargbo of Constituency 077, Kaffu Bullom, Port Loko District, who was serving as APC polling centre coordinator, was arrested by a civilian and handed over to the police on the allegation of carrying ballot papers.

The Deputy Director of OSD, Chief Superintendent of Police, Francis Moses Tawah disclosed that the OSDs were not deployed at the polling centers, but they were asked to put checkpoints at strategic locations including the junction of both the candidate of SLPP and APC. He said they went at the violence at Sarah Modern Preparatory, but they observed that there were a lot of roads leading into the polling stations which were not noticed by the police.

The Head of Crime Services, Brima Jah disclosed that the police arrested two people — one APC party agent who allegedly took the ballot box and a Member of Parliament. He said that the investigation is ongoing and they are optimistic of making more arrests.

Published: 28/08/2019

ISSUE NO. 7664