By Foday Jalloh
One among Sierra Leone finest human rights lawyer and a High Court Judge that has captured the eyes of many accessing the High Court for obvious reasons is Justice lvan Sesay. The learned Judge made this disclosure Thursday 13 July 2023, whiles presiding over a criminal matter.
Many who spoke to this medium within the walls of the High Court of the Republic of Sierra Leone on several dates admired Hon Justice lvan Sesay for his down to earth natured.
The legal pundit is on records for spending his precious time interacting with complainants, suspects, lawyers, police officers, State prosecutors, and Correctional officers attached to the High Court, on discussions relating to the law and Human Rights related issues brought to the court.
The simplification of the laws with regards crimes and punishments before or after most of his sittings have increased legal awareness in the minds of the above-mentioned personals.
As a result of such engagements, correctional officers edify on International Human Rights Standards in the handling and treatments of inmates at detention centres and in prisons.
State prosecutors have also attested to the facts that discussions with Hon Justice Ivan Sesay have also aided them greatly in the areas of prosecuting government cases.
The Hon Judge has openly expressed that he is very passionate about increase in Human Rights violations and by engaging critical partners in the administration of justice within the walls of the High Court creates its own contributions. He called on law enforcers to respect the Human Rights of suspects whenever they are in custody.
He continued that every sector in the judiciary has a role to play in ensuring that free and fair justice uphold in Sierra Leone as a Democratic State.
He noted the issues of suspects in custody should be presumed innocent until proven guilty before a competent court before they can be label as criminals.
At the end of the court proceeding, Justice Ivan reiterated that as a judge, he will not tolerate any form of human rights abuses and therefore warned lawyers, officers, defaulters that witnessed the proceeding to respect human rights.
Sierra Leone is on records as members in many international and regional treaties of which some are not ratifies, signed and domesticated unto date.
