Le50m bail for Legal Aid Board Paralegal

February 1, 2017 By Hassan Gbassay Koroma

One Ibrahim Kallon, a Paralegal working for the Legal Aid Board of Sierra Leone, was yesterday granted fifty million Leones bail plus two sureties by the principal Magistrate of the Freetown Magistrates’ Court No.1, Dr. Abou Bhakarr Binneh Kamara for allegedly using threatening language and insulting words on the current Minister of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden.

 Paralegal Kallon is before the court to answer to three count charges of threatening language, insulting words and defamatory libel, contrary to the Public Order Act of 1965.

The prosecution alleges that the accused on 27^th January, 2017, in Freetown, used threatening language, insulting words and defamed the Minister of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Sylvia O. Blyden.

However, in connection to the above matter, the Legal Aid Board of Sierra Leone has issued out a press release, informing the general public about what transpired on 27^th January, 2017.

Reading the press release at their Guma Building Office, Lamina Sankoh Street in Freetown, Executive Director of the board,Mrs.Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles, said  on Friday, 27^th of January, 2017 the accused, Ibrahim Kallon, one of their child advocate paralegals, went to secure bail in respect of two children at New England Police Station.

She said in the process of securing the bail, some confrontation allegedly ensued between the paralegal and the minister for which the former is before the court.

She disclosed that the accused has been suspended and was put on half salary pending hearing and determination of the matter, and that due to ethical considerstion both matters involving Ibrahim Kallon and the Children Forum Network members have been handed over to counsel outside the Legal Aid Board.

She further  appealed  to all parties to exercise restraint, stop writing inflammatory or distorted articles against either parties, especially on social media or taking divisive actions which break groups apart especially children’s groups.