By Brima Sannoh – 20 August 2019
The Head of CID, Gabriel Tommy, has confirmed on one of the country’s local radio stations, the arrest in Freetown of another opposition APC strongman – the former Mayor of Freetown, who is also the Acting Chairman of the APC Western Area Committee – Herbert George Williams.
His arrest by the Sierra Leone Police brings the total number of opposition APC politicians now arrested to 24.
Last week, one of those arrested and placed behind bars at Pademba Road Prison – Victor Doherty Remoe, was granted bail and is expected to appear in court this week, along with the other 23 APC detainees.
Former Mayor Hebert George Williams arrest, according to the CID Boss, is related to the violence which took place at Hamilton in the far West of Freetown last month, during a political rally held by the opposition APC, where the ruling SLPP party by-election candidate Josephine Jackson accused APC supporters of destroying her property.
Parliamentary by-election in Hamilton Constituency 110 will take place on Saturday 24 August 2019.
The opposition APC are accusing the ruling SLPP of staging the riot in Hamilton so as to discredit their party and have its members arrested on trumped-up charges of violent conduct.
The opposition APC Chairman of the Western Area Rural District Council – Kasho Holland Cole, who is also among the 24 detainees, has been granted bail but will appear in court on Thursday, 22 August 2019, along with the other 22 APC detainees.
In another related development, it is reported that the chambers of Magistrate Hannah Bonnie were broken into and “thoroughly” ransacked apparently over the weekend, according to Sierra Leone’s Director of Public Prosecution, Easmon Ngakui.
What has surprised many is that her offices are located next door to the country’s maximum security prison on Pademba Road. The Magistrate, who is currently presiding over the trial of 23 opposition members and supporters for public order offenses allegedly committed at Hamilton, just outside Freetown, revealed how she had been receiving death threats. All accused persons were denied bail twice when they appeared before Magistrate Hannah Bonnie.
