By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
The Sierra Leone Police in its weekly press briefing held at the Sierra Police Head Quarter in Freetown hosted a galaxy of Journalist and Senior commanding officers to update the public through the press on its weekly operations and activities across the country.
Mr. Braima Kamara Head of Media Operation of the SLP Media One chaired the conference expressing dissatisfaction over the viral video making the rounds on social media of a civilian molesting and manhandling a police officer who was executing his duties as a statesman as he quoted Act No.7 of the 1964 SLP.
He said the SLP and the Bike Riders Union agreed to maintain the Sanctity of the CBD by not entering the CBD area but he said this agreement has been breached over the years by the bike riders who with a determined mind to be confrontational with the police fail to adhere to the rules.
He continued that the video was embarrassing and distasteful as they are also humans and it is the duty of the police officer to execute his duties to the state and as such civilians must learn to respect the law and officers representing the state.
He said investigations are ongoing and that the matter will be charged to court as the crime he said is an assault on a police officer
The Regional Commander for the Freetown East Mr. Francis Hasley also expressed his dissatisfaction towards the viral video which he described as embarrassing and bad for the SLP and the nation. He gave update report incidents of Murder where he gave a brief detail of the incident of a quarrel between two blood brothers from the Koroma Family of Fire Mambo.
According to Mr. Francis Hasley he said Alie being the elder brother to Kassim had a brief quarrel over food. He said Alie was having his lunch when Kassim dipped his hands into the food and Alie reacted by lifting Kassim’s hand off and this made Kassim used his feet and stepped on the food. Kassim he said was confirmed to be mentally insane took a knife and stabbed his elder brother on the neck and was rushed to the waterloo center upon arrival was confirmed dead.
Mr. Francis said according to Kassim during investigations said he and the elder brother had a fight, he dipped his hand into the food but used his feet and stepped on the food which led to the fight as he said they both exchanged blows. He said when Kassim was told about his brother’s death he said his brother was only sleeping and not dead. Mr. Francis said it was confirmed from Kassim with his response to the death of his brother that he was mentally insane.
He however told press men that Kassim has been placed in an isolated custody helping with investigations. He also mentioned of an incident from the Harbor Division about a tip off about some drugs belonging to UNICEF. He said someone gave the tip off of a certain shop with the inscription Nenneh kaffumba at peace market.
He said on arrival at the scene a certain Mr. Mohamed Kamara was asked to open the door of the shop where large quantities of free health care drugs and other drugs were found upon which he denied having knowledge of as he said he was only asked to keep the drugs there for safety purposes and has been arrested and is helping with investigations said Mr. Francis Hazley
Mr. Victor Manfred Freetown West also gave his own update as he said on the 8th OF May 2022 a robbery case was reported by Ahmed Tejan Koroma that he was attacked and robbed with a machete and huge sum of money was stolen from him and another case was made by Foday Dumbuya of Memunatu Bangura who he reported he found dead lying in her own pool of blood.
According to Mr. Victor he said the case was one of a murder case as the deceased throat was slit and that six people have been arrested and are helping with police investigations. He also cleared the air on a viral video showing an officer who shot at a civilian. He said the officer in question was executing his duties as he arrested a guy in possession of Kush and that youths of the area attacked him and told him to let go of the guy but he politely refused and the youths ganged up on him wherein he held out his gun and fired an empty shot which was not intentional according to him to scare off these youths when the fragments caught one of them.
Dr John Martin Senesie operation support division said on the 11th May 2022 a police constable Hawa Kanu and others sustained injury as they were assaulted by a certain lady named Grace Koroma. He said according to police constable the lady was in a kekkeh when they approached the check point and suspected the lady as she was approaching the check point she tried to escape and had a purse with her which she threw to the other lady inside of the kekkeh and fought with the police.
Superintendent Lebbie also gave his own update of an alleged case of false pretense and embezzlement. Mr. Braima concluded the conference by encouraging Sierra Leoneans to be law abiding at all times.
