Is murder now pardonable?
This medium has been reliably informed that the names of certain convicted prisoners who were lodged at the Pademba Road prison for ritual murder were among the list of prisoners that received presidential pardon on Independence Day, April 27.
This news did not come as a surprise to many. In the past, there had been cases of prisoners who were convicted for felonious offences including treason and had been miraculously set free under the President’s prerogatory of mercy.
The case of Foday Kallay, a notorious West Side killer was freed under President Ernest Bai Koroma’s prerogatory of mercy.
In 2006, a female convict, simply named Marion also enjoyed presidential pardon under dubious circumstances during President Kabbah’s tenure. Public indignation was reflected in the media with very strong comments against the release of the prisoner.
It must be noted that in the exercise of his authority, the constitution grants the president the power to set free certain prisoners whose crimes were not treasonable or felonious in nature.
As a matter of procedure, there is a Presidential Committee comprising of the Vice President, the Attorney General, the Director of Prisons and other persons of notable standing in society who identify those prisoners that would qualify for the Presidential of Mercy.
All the President does is to append his signature to the document following which the lucky prisoners are set free. It was often a moment of celebration for those prisoners and their families.
However, in other instances, the release of such prisoners became a threat to the community as was the case of Foday Kallay who was rejected by his community and forced to flee the area.
The community members were gravely disappointed that a hardcore criminal who spearheaded the maiming and killing of innocent civilians during the war years could qualify for a presidential mercy.
This is what has happened again in the case of two convicted murderers, Michael Josiah and Mustapha Bojon who were convicted after they were found guilty of ritual murder at the Bo high court.
The question most people asked is whether the President often scrutinizes the list of prisoners brought before him for endorsement before the said prisoners were set free.
This question is being raised against the backdrop of the role the committee plays in identifying those to be pardoned by the President.
Was the President ever aware that certain names on the list would never have qualified for presidential pardon if he the president had taken time to scrutinize the list?
The apparent failure on the part of the president or committee to give the list a second look has always left room for speculation.
There are stories doing the round that some family members of certain prisoners often bribe prison officers so that they could smuggle the names of such prisoners on the list so that they could be pardoned.
Otherwise, if no bribe or compromise took place how come the names of the aforementioned murderers appeared on the list of prisoners to be set free by the president on Independence Day?
Our position as a medium is that if justice is to be done it should be equitably done in a manner that the President’s name is not dragged in the mud.
Otherwise we would suggest a special investigation be done in the compilation of the list.
This would be our humble suggestion, if we are to have a credible process of pardoning prisoners on special occasions.
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2011, https:. All rights reserved.
