BY: HAJA HAWA KOROMA
The Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) in its monthly Media Freedom Review, a publication that was set up to for the monitoring and reporting on freedom of expression and of the press, internet freedom, digital and online rights and safety and security of journalists in Sierra Leone has given a follow up report of incidents that has taken place throughout the month of February.
In February 2022, MRCG followed incidents of an alleged physical assault on a journalist and the arrest and detention of another, a matter between a journalist and the Sierra Leone police; matter between a journalist and a magistrate in Kenema, a pastor versus the state, an entertainer and an ethnic group; the invitation and detention of main opposition spokesperson in relation to comments made during a radio program; and the launch of a journalism welfare fund.
Alusine Antha of Eagle Africa FM 91.3 on the 17th February 2022 was alleged to have been physically assaulted by seven youths in the Waterloo Community. The journalist is said to have gone to the community to cover a story dealing with a land issue and then seven youths physically attacked and assaulted him.
He said that most of his personal belongings like his phone, recorder and money that were in his possession were forcefully taken away from him during the course of the incident.
He then reported the matter to the Waterloo Police Division who arrested the seven suspects and charged them to court. The matter came up on the 19th February 2022 at the Waterloo Magistrate Court but due to the absence of the suspects the case was adjourned to 14th March 2022.
Two officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Freetown travelled to Bo on the 7th February 2022 and ordered the arrest of Solomon Joe, a journalist of KISS 104 FM in Bo for broadcasting a transaction between two businessmen in Bo. After they’ve obtained a statement from him in Bo, he was brought to Freetown and spent a night in police custody.
On the 8th February 2022, he was released on the conditions that he retracts the story and apologizes to the business men. “I am not going to retract the story. My request now is for the CID to close the file against me in their record sine they did not find me wanting, to avoid future arrest,” Solomon stated.
The MRCG engaged in a follow up on the alleged physical assault and detention of Ransford Wright, a staff (camera operator) of AYV Media Empire by the police on 13th December 2021, the police stated that the matter was still under investigation. Ransford told the MRCG that the police summoned him and some of his senior colleagues from AYV to a meeting and promised to compensate him.
The police disclosed to the president of SLAJ, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla that they had suspended the officials who were involved in the incident and promises to pay for the journalists missing pieces of property and to officially write to SLAJ when they conclude the investigation.
In a follow up of the complaint at the Human Rights Commission for Sierra Leone (HRCSL) made by Osman Hardy Jalloh a journalist, against Magistrate Joseph Toby of Magistrate Court No. 2 in Kenema on his arrest and detention. The Deputy Director of HRCSL Regional Service East, Sylvester Kallon stated that the commission had sent a copy of the admissibility study to the complaint for him to verify, sign and send back to them to take the next step.
The MRCG conducted a follow up on the court matter of Pastor Septimus Yambasu who was charged to court for insulting conduct against President Julius Maada Bio, contrary to section 3(1) of the Public Order Act of 1965. Magistrate Sahr Kekura of the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1 discharged the matter on January 25 2022. The police returned Yambasu’s vehicle which was impounded by them.
They also engaged in a follow up on the matter of Ahmed Doyle Kamara (aka Tazmo Sliz) an entertainer in makeni, for allegedly insulting and attacking the Fullah Community in a Facebook live video in December 2021. On the 28th February 2022 the matter was discharged from court by Magistrate Sahr Keikura of Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1 after Tazmo Sliz had apologized to the Fullah Community and the people of Sierra Leone in a Facebook live video on the 21 February 2022.
Sidi Yayah Tunis acting spokesman of the APC was invited and detained at the CID in Freetown on 8th February 2022 for the alleged ‘inciting utterances’ during a program on Radio Democracy 98.1 FM on Monday 7th February 2022. The Inspector General of Police Ambrose Sovula stated that Mr. Tunis was invited because his utterances were deemed to be ‘inciting statements’ that has the tendency to disrupt and undermine the safety and security of the state.
Mr. Tunis was later released on bail while the matter is under investigation.
The details of the cases and issues will be published in the MRCG Bi-Annual Press Freedom Report for December 2021 to May 2022.
