At the Special National Town Hall engagement on the fight against Kush held on 2nd April 2024 in Freetown, Vice President of Sierra Leone, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh made a pronouncement that “no bail would be granted to anyone arrested with the substance, regardless of legal representation”.
The Vice President’s pronouncement was greeted with mix feelings and misunderstanding among some sector of the public, with some legal luminaries describing his pronouncement as constitutionally illegal.
Many have said the vice president’s pronouncement threatens the fundamental rights of Sierra Leonean citizens and that his remarks, advocating for the denial of bail and the incarceration of individuals accused of involvement in the Kush trade, not only betray a disregard for due process but also raise serious concerns about potential human rights violations.
Speaking to AYV News, Vice President Jalloh said he made this pronouncement in his capacity as Chairman of the Police Council.
He said: “In my capacity as Chairman of the Police Council, I have summoned all my police commanders and instructed them not to grant bail to anyone arrested with the substance whiles in police custody, regardless of legal representation. This is within my authority as Chairman of the Police Council”.
He said lately, the Police have been proactive in arresting illegal drugs dealers but that once they are in police custody, you will see lawyers storming the police stations to seek their bails. He said when once they (dealers) are granted bail, they will return to the same communities and those communities will in turn accuse the police of releasing the suspects to recommit the same crimes.
“So now, when arrested by the police, we will deny them bail but instead, we will fast track their police investigations, complete their case files and charge them to court within the shortest possible time. After that, let their lawyers go to the court and apply for their bail. If bail is granted by the court, then so be it but henceforth, no bail would be granted to anyone arrested with the substance whiles in police custody, regardless of legal representation.” Vice President Jalloh reechoed.
At the Townhall Meeting, the vice president also disclosed that two magistrates have been assigned exclusively to handle drug-related cases to ensure timely justice delivery.
He also announced the establishment of a National Task Force on drug and substance abuse, on the instructions of His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio. The task Force will bring stakeholders across the country and in the diaspora together to contribute to the fight against drug abuse.
The town hall demonstrated a coordinated effort involving multiple sectors to address the Kush crisis, emphasizing enforcement, rehabilitation, and community engagement strategies.
