By Foday Moriba Conteh
During the Sierra Leone Police Press Briefing held at the Police Headquarters on George Street in Freetown on Thursday, 25 August, 2022 the number of suspects in its custody, the number that has so far been discharged were disclosed and the way forward following the August 10 insurrection, as of 24 August, 2022, charted.
Head of Criminal Investigations Department (CID), ACP Richard Peter Gibao Roberts, commonly known as RPG disclosed that, as of Wednesday 24 August, 2022, the total number of suspects in their custody was five hundred and six (506) and that on the same day the cumulated number of suspects released was one hundred and thirty three (133).
According to the CID Boss, the release of the 133 was unconditional after thorough investigations and separating them into different categories including those caught during curfew, random arrest on August 10, and those who bear the greatest responsibilities.
The release of the 133 suspects, he said, is the reason for investigations in order to ascertain the truth and evidence which can be used to proffer charges noting after investigations, there was no evidence against the 133.
ACP RPG went on to state that they have also released 24 suspects who were minors to the Ministry of Social Welfare for reunification with their parents or guardians.
He underscored that the number in custody cannot be static as they still have suspects who are on the run with others in hiding and that arresting continues on a daily basis.
“I wouldn’t want to say now that after releasing the 133, we have so, so number in our custody, because if I give you a figure and after here we arrest, the number you will report, will be different from the one in our custody,” said the Chief investigator.
Head of Community Relations Department (CRD) Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Edna Ansumana informed that, the SLP in its crime prevention strategy bid would be embarking on a massive and robust community sensitization on safety and security and the misuse of social media.
The sensitization and community engagement, she said, would be done in partnership with stakeholders, the Local Policing Partnership Board (LPPB) and is aimed at bringing policing to the doorsteps of citizens and building trust and confidence.
