National Cyber Security Unit donated laptop computers and other digital equipment to the Sierra Leone Police in the bid of eliminating cybercrimes during a press briefing held at the Police headquarters in Freetown on Monday 13th March 2023.
Mariama Yormah, National Cybersecurity Coordinator attached at the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre under the Ministry of Information and Communication said the National Cybersecurity Crime Act which was legislated in 2021 seeks to responsible for all cyber related matters; adding that one of the mandates is to work with the judiciary and other key players within the country especially the Sierra Leone Police in order to clamp down cyber offenders.
“Most of the crimes are perpetrated using the laptops, mobile phones, internet as well as mobile communication networks,’’ Yormah said.
She emphasized that as an institution, they worked relentlessly to strengthen the law enforcement agency with digital devices and training facilities both in and out of the country as a way of enhancing the cyber unit with well-equipped and modern-days equipment in the fight against cybercrimes.
She mentioned that in recent times they trained ten police prosecutors and state prosecutors on cybercrime system to making sure that the act is enforced both in spirit and practice.
Coordinator Yormah alluded that the Cybercrime Act depicts a critical interpretation of strong evidence that should be demonstrated for it to be vetted and examined whenever such case arises in the court of Law.
She said in a case where the evidence is not handled properly, the chances of undermining the integrity and professionalism of the evidence is highly likely to be on a compelling scale.
Coordinator Yormah stated that the donation serves as a way of augmenting the Sierra Leone Police to be part of the forces in the parade of eliminating cybercrimes across the country; noting that her office is opened to work in collaboration with the police in order to stop this menace that is festering into the fabric of this nation.
Mohamed Brima Jah, Director of Operations at the Sierra Leone Police thanked the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre and the Ministry of Information and Communication for such a laudable donation.
He furthered that the donation is timely and they would endeavor to have a collaborative partnership with the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre as a way of entirely putting an end to cybercrimes. Brima Jah assured that the equipment would be well utilized for the actual purpose.
Mohamed Rahman Swarray, Minister of Information and Communication said over time the Cyber Crime Law was castigated on political grounds without knowing the positive inroads it would bring. He revealed that the law protects critical information or classified documents, online child protection, international corporations, critical infrastructures especially the banks, hostels, electricity system among others. He urged Sierra Leoneans to appreciate the law through reading the entire contextual framework it carries for effective understanding.
“Implementing the Cybersecurity Law is something His Excellency President Bio has been interested in, and it has to be a thing of the past,’’ Minister Rahman Swarray said.
