TYRANY!!!
…Opposition Strongman Jailed for Relief Tablets
By Ibrahim Alusine Kamara
A Magistrate in Sierra Leone has sentenced one Michael Mansaray, a youth leader of the main opposition, All Peoples Congress (APC) to eight months in prison for possessing some Relief tablets in his home.
Michael Mansaray was seen kidnapped in a video that went viral on social media on Independence Day by some unknown men and bundled into a black jeep in Bo City, the stronghold of the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) government following a video he had made criticizing the current President, Jul;ius Maada Bio.
Days after his kidnapped, the Sierra Leone Police in Bo City put out a statement stating that the opposition strongman was in their custody for what they say unlawful possession of drugs.
Since his kidnapped on April 27th, Michael Mansaray has been in detention as the court blatantly refused him bail even though the alleged offence is bailable.
Sierra Leone under the ruling SLPP has now become notorious for the heightened persecution and prosecution of anyone who dares to criticise the government.
Just recently, another man in Kenema was jailed for criticizing the President and his wife while LAJ, a popular musician was also mobbed and stabbed by alleged ruling party supporters following a song he released in which he lamented on the ills of the current government.
Many more citizens including journalists and human rights activists have also been victims of what many say is the tyrannical rule of the New Direction government.
An opposition activist and journalist had this to say when news of Michael Mansaray’s sentence broke out Wednesday, 2nd June, 2021:
‘’🚩Opposition APC activist Michael Magba Mansaray in Bo has today June 2nd 2021, been sentenced to 8 months Jail for having tablets at home worth only few Leones. He is convicted under Section 8 of National Drugs Control Act of 2008 but Section 1 of that Act clearly defines what is a “drug”. RELIEF (Panadol/Ibuprofen) is NOT recognised as a drug under that Act.
People say Michael is convicted for having RELIEF tablets in his home but any conviction based on assumption that RELIEF is a “drug” under that Act is an egregious miscarriage of justice.
If indeed, APC’s Michael Magba Mansaray is jailed for possessing Panadol/Ibuprofen in his home, then it is a SHARP INJUSTICE and should be condemned by all right-thinking citizens including even SLPP Members.
The said tablets, costing few leones, were found during a Raid of his home after he made a critical video against H.E. President Bio in favour of a former president. Michael was later not charged for the video that caused the Raid but for the few tablets in his house.
I, for now, will withhold further comments until I read Judgment of the learned Magistrate in Bo. Me mouth full up. 😖😖😖
Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden OOR’’