The Executive Director of Center for Accountability and the Rule of Law (CARL), Ibrahim Tommy has disclosed that out of the 2,105 cases they monitored across 14 districts, the Western Area has recorded serious increase in sexual related offences.
The Executive Director made the disclosure recently at his CARL head office at Circular Road, Freetown while updating the media on their second edition of “The Justice Watch”, a bulletin produced by CARL funded by UNDP.
Mr. Ibrahim Tommy revealed that the Western Area alone recorded 743 cases representing 35.3%, noting that CARL was established for accountability and the rule of Law.
He reiterated that Kenema District was also spot with the second highest by recording 432 cases representing 20.5%.
He went further to explain that Bo District also recorded 199 cases that represent (9.5%), adding that Port Loko recorded 140 cases representing 6.7% and Bonthe District recorded 98 cases representing 4.7%.
He deliberated further that, out of the 2,105 monitored cases, a total of 353 cases have legal representation in court representing 16.8 %, adding that the 1,752 cases have no legal representation in court.
He highlighted that, out of the 2,105 cases monitored so far, 1,983 were male and 122 were female, noting that 110 were aged between 13-17 years.
He said that data shows that persons accused of offences such as sexual penetrations, rape, wounding with intent and other felonious offences were hardly granted bail on their first appearance.
Mr. Tommy said that, CARL had noticed the pattern of granting bail to accuses for similar offences were different.
“There is limited knowledge among police persecutors in respect of the 2018 Bail Regulations. During our interaction with them, it was noticed that they are not aware of the new Bail Regulation,” he divulged.