July 22, 2021
By Ilyasa Baa
The Human Right Commission of Sierra Leone (HRC) has called on political parties to issue position papers in relation to the bill titled: Abolition of Death Penalty 2021 which is currently tabled before parliament.
The Vice Chairman, Victor Lansana said political parties as well as Members of Parliament should ensure that they contribute meaningfully to the debate. He said MPs should see it as a great opportunity for generations yet on born by scrutinizing the bill thoroughly.
According to him, they have issues with the bill especially with the area having to do with manslaughter.
He said the twenty five years imprisonment should be extended to at least forty five years.
Secondly, in the area of mutiny, the new law is saying the Judge should use his discretion to levy punishment ranging from life sentence to another punishment he so desires. “This is unacceptable and needs to be amended because it broadens the ambit of his discretion”, said the Human Rights Lawyer.
The last time the death penalty was applied in Sierra Leone was in 1998 having emanated from various laws such as the Offences Against the Persons Acts of 1861, the Larceny Act of 1916, the Military Forces Act (mutiny) of 1961 and the Treason and State Offences Act of 1963.
However, the death penalty has been regarded by human rights activists as a component of slavery and President Bio, it could be recalled had promised in his manifesto that he would expunge the death penalty from the law books.