In Sierra Leone, Illegal Adoption…15 Families Cry for Justice

In Sierra Leone, Illegal Adoption…15 Families Cry for Justice

By Michael T. Kamara

Dec 17, 2012, 12:06 Email this article

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Magistrate Komba Kamanda of Court No.2 on Thursday 13th December, 2012 adjourned the alleged adoption matter between senior workers of HANCI and over fifteen families from across the country, to 11th January, 2013.

The matter was called on Thursday 13th December this year for prosecution witnesses to continue their testimonies on the matter before the court.

The Principal State Prosecutor, Lawyer Gerald J. Soyie was about to lead in evidence a police witness, when Defense Lawyer Wright asked the court to grant an adjournment on the matter for him to thoroughly go through the statement and get himself ready for cross examination.

At this juncture, Magistrate Kamanda adjourned the matter to 11th of January 2013 for further prosecution.

However, family members of the adopted children have expressed dismay over the continuous adjournments of the said matter by the court. The aggrieved families want to use this medium to call on the judiciary to fast track the trials and ensure that justice is seen done in the matter, as according to them, “justice delayed is justice denied.”

One of the aggrieved family members, Abubakarr Kargbo, said most of them have not set eyes on their children for a little over fifteen years now, adding that they want to know the current fate and status of the children.

It could be recalled that HANCI was slammed a 31 count charge ranging from trafficking, perjury, to other related offences. The matter was first heard in court in July this year and since then, it has witnessed several adjournments.