By Foday Jalloh
Legal Aid Board lawyer, Ibrahim Bangura was before the High Court on Tuesday July18 2023 battling with other state lawyers over a detention of a suspect who has been in remanded since 2020.
The suspect was charged to court on the allegation of man slaughter.
In his plea before the court, he disclosed he is a father of two, and that since his incarceration his children continues to suffer.
My family has abandoned me and as a young man within age of 36yrs I have regretted my actions and want the court to pardon me so that I can continuing life, he pleaded openly. Among other cases lawyer Bangura of the Legal Aid is representing in the High Court of Sierra Leone include one Mohamed Barrie presently in jail and Moses Kamanda and several others who has spent in detention several years without proper trial.
Before adjournment by the judge, Hon Justice Amy Wright warned State prosecutors to reach the office of master and registrar and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP)
she was very angry with the state lawyers for the absent of jurors in court, noting if the panel of jurors is not completed in court sitting, the court will have no option but to adjourn the matter.
She gave this warning to the state counsel in the presence of lawyer A Bockarie and T.E Zizar who were there prosecuting the case of Ibrahim Conteh, Mohamed Turay Mohamed Bangura and others, a matter that are before the high court for trial.
She attributed the actions of jurors as a cause for delay in the justice system.
She adjourned the matter to July 25, 2023, for further hearing.
Many of the said cases in the High Court come by a trial by judge alone while others are tried by judge and jurors.
As a justice institution, the Legal Aid Board under the watchful eye of Madam Clara Hancile continues to intensify legal pursuit of cases of over detention in police cells and correctional centers across the country.
The Legal Aid Board calling on courts to decongest by availing suspects that has spent longer than expected in detention without trial for Legal Aid representation during courts service.
With external funding, the Legal Aid Board has over the years made itself visible in both lower and high courts representing less privileged that encountered the law.
With over ten years of existence, the institution has recorded remarkable successes in human right related issues especially around access to justice that many holds the view cannot be unconnected to the fact that the iron lady steering the ship is a professional lawyer.
Taking into consideration its mandate that has to do with dispute settlement and conflict prevention, Legal Aid Board Sierra Leone have really live up to its expectation.
