Foday Moriba Conteh
The Legal Aid Board Paralegal for Lokomassama in the Port Loko District, Sahr Tortor on Wednesday, 5 July 2020 succeeded in having the Traditional Chief of Taindekum village to refund the sum of Le 500,000 (US$ 50) to a client of the Board. The Chief had imposed the very probative fine on the woman for allegedly disrespecting her mother-in-law.
The lady reported the matter to Legal Aid Board office in Petefu Junction in the Lokomassama chiefdom. Torto informed the Local Court Administration in the chiefdom about the injustice the woman has been subjected to. He then informed the chief that the matter has been reported to the Legal Aid Board, as a result, he should refund the money to the lady, which he did.
The Paralegal also impressed upon the Chief that in future he must not impose any fine that is above Le50,000, which is the amount stipulated in the Local Court Act 2011.
The Paralegal went ahead and mediated the matter between the women and her mother-in-law. Both parties were satisfied and the women went home with her Le 500,000.
In a related development, the Board’s Paralegal for Kaffu Bullom, Philip Sesay secured bail for two suspects who had been held at Lungi Police Station for more than 72 hours for a minor offence. The Police were given an ultimatum to either charge the matter or put the suspects on bail while continuing with their investigation. The Police settled for the latter after he threatened to call the Executive Director of the Board.
On the 3rd August 2020, the Legal Aid Board concluded a fruitful engagement with volunteers of four Community Advisory Bureaus (CAB) in the East-End of Freetown. The four Bureaus represented at the meeting were: Pamaronkoh, Old Wharf, Maxwell and Mellon Street Community Advisory Bureaus.
The Outreach Manager of the Board, Bankole C.E. Morgan said the purpose of the gathering was to discuss the reason for the issuing of Identity Cards (ID Cards) to volunteers, and the strengthening of the administrative structure of the Bureaus. He said the issuance of the ID Cards is a demonstration of trust in the volunteers. He underlined the important role they play in providing primary legal aid services to their communities. He added that the reason for the establishment of the Bureaus is to bring justice to the doorsteps of the community. He assured them that the Board will do everything within its power to boost their work.
Mr. Morgan said the Board is aware of the embarrassment they are sometimes subjected to as they go about their work, simply because they do not have an ID Card. He said this has affected their relationship with the police, traditional court administrators and stakeholders in line of duty. ‘We understand the constraints you face in your work because you do not have an ID Card,’ Morgan said.
Mr. Morgan said the Board will continue to build the capacity of volunteers. He disclosed that he will be doing periodic presentations on the Gender Laws namely Domestic Violence Act 2007, Devolution of Estates Act 2007 and the Registration of Customary Marriage and Divorce Act 2007.
He encouraged the volunteers to refer all criminal matters to the nearest police station. He concluded by calling on them to take the work of the Bureau seriously noting it is a way of giving back to their community.
The Chairman of the Pamaronkoh Community Advisory Bureau who hosted the event, Mustapha Kamara called on his colleagues to take the work of the Bureau seriously, stressing that the Board has carved a reputation for service to the poor. He assured the Board that they will strive to maintain integrity in their work.
