April 20, 2021
By Ilyasa Baa
Spokesman of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) known as Media One has confirmed to A-Z newspaper that Inspector Rebecca Douglas together with other officers involved in the recent killing that took place in Hastings, have been placed in protective custody helping with the investigation.
Superintendent Brima Kamara has assured the public that the investigation is going to be expedited and it will follow the due process of the law. He said the gravity of the offence led to their immediate arrest and detention in police custody.
Media One spoke of their internal disciplinary mechanism as one that has helped weed out the bad eggs within the force noting that the Complaint Disciplinary Internal Investigation Department (CDIID) has relieved a good number of defaulting police officers over the years.
Deputy Chairperson, Human Rights Commission- Sierra Leone, Victor I. Lansana has opposed the SLP pointing out that the use of excessive force and unprecedented killing of civilians should be addressed approximately.
He said the SLP has a constitutional mandate as provided in section 5 of the 1991 constitution which is to protect lives and properties. He charged that the force has not been using human right lens let alone use human face in handling civilians.
He cited police killings in Tombo, Ansarul, Njala and the Youth Farm in Kabala as justification of the police not being accountable. He said for the public to have trust in the force, they have to be accountable and communicate outcomes for the benefit of the public whose taxes are used to upkeep the force.
It could be recalled that a civilian used to be known as Alpha Kargbo aka Wandada was shot by an OSD officer over a land dispute involving the Inspector, in Hastings, last week. Residents of Hastings have called for speedy investigation pointing fingers on police officers as terrorists. A-Z newspaper will continue to monitor the matter until it reaches its logical conclusion.