As Judicial Independence Deteriorates… Bio Meddles In 264 Karat Diamond Theft Case
Ordinary Sierra Leoneans have been talking about the deterioration of judicial independence in the country, pointing out that justice in the country is for sale.
There are people who have died fighting for justice but just because they don’t know someone who knows someone they were left to perish.
Well, this can be seen in the recent diamond theft matter that has to do with Mr Jihad Basma and British Investor in Kono whose diamond was allegedly stollen to the point that certain Lebanese in Sierra Leone have been named as the people who allegedly bought the theft diamond
Preliminary investigation has been completed at the magistrate court and they found that the accused Jihad Basma has a case to answer for which the matter was forwarded to the High Court.
As it usually the case of the wheeler-dealers in Sierra Leone Jihad Basma is now using a Pro-Government Newspaper to do advocacy for him while the matter is in court.
The Pro-Government Newspaper has been making wild accusation on the judiciary for giving a stiff bail condition to Jihad Basma who is deemed a flight risk.
“The decision by Justice Momoh Jah-Stevens JA to rescind the bail of Jihad Basma and two others in the alleged stolen diamond case from Kono makes a mockery of the judicial system,” the Pro Government Newspaper stated.
The bail condition for a matter of such magnitude according to legal analysts is in place and Justice Momoh Jah Stevens noted that all the three accused persons were required to surrender all their traveling documents to the Master and Registrar.
That each accused was required to produce one surety and must be resident within Freetown at a recognised address and the said property must be valued not less than one million United States Dollars.
“Just from the blue, Justice Momoh Jah-Stevens on 2nd October, 2024 rescinded their bail and ordered them detained at the Pademba Road correctional centre. We still believe that, Justice Momoh Jah-Stevens is a God-fearing man. He is a man of integrity,” the Newspaper stated.
Shockingly, the newspaper roped in the President in the alleged diamond theft case which did not only give bad name to the president but presents the country in bad light.
“In his wisdom, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio had appointed a team headed by PC Sheku Tejan Fasuluku from Kono to mediate in the matter between Jihad Basma and Benjamin Marrer. The mediation team is yet to report formerly to the president about the outcome of their endeavor,” the Pro Government Newspaper maintained
The Question now in the minds of progressive Sierra Leoneans and well-meaning business people in the country is why will the President set up a mediation team while the matter is in court?
They deemed the alleged action of the President as an attempt that will have an impact on judicial independence which is very destructive to the country’s nascent democracy.
That this will serve as a deterrent to would be investors from investing in a country where the President can single-handedly empanel a mediation team while a matter is still in court.
New Age contacted the Attorney General, the Press Secretary and the Information Minister but neither of them responded.