By: Abdul Razack Gbla
The Judiciary of Sierra Leone has taken a proactive move to enhance public safety and uphold legal standards by handing over a diverse array of weapons, previously used as evidence in numerous criminal cases, to the National Commission on Small Arms (SLeNCSA) for Secure Disposal.
The Acting Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Nicholas C. Browne-Marke, emphasised the necessity of this action, stating concerns over the secure storage of these weapons within judicial premises.
“The Judiciary lacked a suitable facility to safely house these firearms, and there was a genuine risk of them falling into unauthorised hands,” Justice Browne-Marke stated during a recent meeting convened for the handover process.
Directed by Justice Browne-Marke, the Master and Registrar of the High Court orchestrated the formal transfer of arms and ammunition to ensure compliance with legal protocols and safety measures.
The Deputy Commissioner of the Small Arms Commission, Lieutenant Colonel Rtd. Luke Foday Ndonema, applauded the Judiciary’s adherence to regional agreements in his response, particularly citing the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Sierra Leone’s ratification of this convention in June 2007 underscores the nation’s commitment to regional stability and disarmament efforts.The weapons handed over to the commission include a variety of firearms such as pistols, self-loaded rifles (SLR), Gallil SAR 370, sub-machine guns (SMG), sniper rifles including the German Three (G3), and various models of AK-series rifles. Additionally, a quantity of ammunition was also included in the transfer.
This proactive measure by the Sierra Leone Judiciary is seen as a huge step in enhancing public safety and ensuring the responsible disposal of firearms that were once pivotal to judicial proceedings.For more updates on national and international stories, readers are encouraged to follow Owl newspaper for better and more comprehensive coverage.
