By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
FREETOWN, July 29 (SALONE TIMES) – Despite the fact that, the leader of the main opposition and other members of parliament have called for the release of Hon Emmanuel Saidu Conteh, the Member of Parliament has been in remand at the Central Maximum Prison.
Hon Emmanuel Saidu Conteh was arrested and detained over pistols that were found in an imported car that was under his name at the quay, an allegation he denied.
The People of Constituency 129 have now written to the Foreign Missions and Diplomatic Community, calling for the release of their Member of Parliament, Hon Saidu Conteh.
Below is the letter from the people:
C/O: Tambay Mansaray
17b College Road, Off Congo Cross, Freetown
Cell: +232 77 437 256/+232 79 320 140
Email: tambaymansaray17@gmail.com
26th July 2021
From: Constituents of Constituency 129, Western Area Urban
To: All Foreign Missions, Embassies, and the Diplomatic Corp in Sierra Leone
Your Excellencies,
Ref: Concern over the Arrest and Detention of Hon. Emanuel Saidu Conteh, MP Constituency 129, All People’s Congress (APC) party
Constituents of Constituency 129, comprising Congo Town and Tengbeh Town Communities in the Western Area Urban, Freetown, hereby write to bring to your attention the arrest, detention, and ongoing trial of Hon. Emmanuel Saidu Conteh, a seating lawmaker who was arrested on 2nd July 2021 on his way from the Sierra Leone Parliament at the Queen Elizabeth the Second Quay on allegations of illegal importation of arms and ammunition believe to have come from the United States of America.
As Constituents, our concerns are that our Lawmaker deserves to be treated as a senior citizen, with respect and all constitutional privileges and immunities entitled to him as enshrined in Section 99 to 102 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, Act No.6 of 1991.
Your Excellencies, you are aware that bail is a fundamental human right avowed to the MP like any other citizen, but sadly our MP has been denied bail in his last five (5) Magistrate Court appearances despite countless prayers by his Defense Council.
We are made aware that health challenges are buffeting our MP who is reportedly in solitary confinement at the Pademba Road Male Correctional Centre for almost a month.
The Residents of Constituency 129 are deeply concerned about the continued incarceration of our beloved hardworking MP who has brought in lots of tangible developments in the constituency in the last three (3) years. His detention without bail is reminiscent of politically motivated detention.
Your Excellencies, we are all aware of Hon. Conteh’s forthright representation and contribution in the House of Parliament, which have been seriously affected due to his continued detention. This has plunged his duty in Parliament and to constituents and constituency developments.
We will also like to draw your attention to the ongoing development in Magistrate Court No.1 in which the Prosecution has been lackadaisical in the advancing of the case with flimsy excuses that have prolonged his detention and refusal to bail. This and many other actions should have no place in our nascent democracy and fragile state.
To this effect, we are kindly craving your indulgence to lend voices in securing the releases of Hon. Conteh on bail and for the staging of a free, fair, and expeditious trial.
We thank you for your attention and anticipate your positive response.
Attached is a list of signatures of some One Hundred signatories to this petition.
Yours faithfully,
Residents of Constituency 129
