October 14, 2016
Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Mrs. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles, has praised the people of Bo city for coming out in their thousands to grace the launch of their office in Bo. The Director was particularly impressed with the peaceful manner the people conducted themselves. “Even though we had in the audience people from different political parties and shades of opinion, the launch passed off without any incident,” she said. “There was plenty of drumming and dancing and most importantly the message went down very well. Everybody appreciate what the Board is doing and happy to work with us”.
The Executive Director had this to say regarding statements made by stakeholders, including civil society, Sierra Leone Motor Drivers Union, and Traders Council: “None of the speakers was critical of our operations or independence,” she said.
She thus rubbished rumours peddled by cynics in the media that most beneficiaries of the scheme in Bo are hardcore criminals. She pointed out that the Board had recruited and deployed lawyers in each of the provincial offices, including Bo, since August and September 2016, respectively.
Giving updates on the provision of legal assistance to indigents in Bo, she said that the Board had secured discharges for ten indigent remand inmates charged with loitering, obtaining money by false pretense, fraudulent conversion, assault and wounding.
“It’s not true that those whose discharge we have secured are ravaging Bo city. As a matter of fact, none of our few beneficiaries in Bo has re-offended. You can check this with the police and the stakeholders, including the Regional Chairperson of Civil Society Organisations for the Southern Province, Jeremy Simbo,” she said, thus debunking spurious media claims.
Also, the Board is currently representing seven indigent remand prisoners at the High Court, eighteen at the Magistrate Court and two in the Juvenile Court.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director described Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Hon. Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, as one of the biggest assets to the Legal Aid Board. She was also quick to remind people that while the Board is independent and not subject to instructions from any politician, it is under the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
“The Attorney General has contributed to attracting the crowds to our events in addition to explaining government’s policy and actions in promoting the justice delivery system, which by the way is good for the work of the Board,” she said. “People who want to politicise the work of the Board should be reminded that politicians of the different parties, including Members of Parliament and Councilors, participate in our community outreach events.”