By Sulaiman Jalloh
In a landmark legislation, Parliament of Sierra Leone during its 58th plenary sitting debated and passed into law the “Criminal Procedures Act (CPA) 2024” with some amendments.
The Bill repealed the archaic Criminal Procedure Act of 1965, abolishing the jury system in criminal proceedings which brings significant changes to the country’s criminal justice system that suits the 21st century. This passage comes after five different ministers of justice attempted to repeal the CPA Act, of 1965.
Before the enactment, the debate was contentious and consequently culminated in an election for the expungement of the jury system in the criminal proceedings which the ruling bench along with Hon. Mohammed Bangura from the opposition bench victoriously emerged with sixty-five (65) votes in favor, whilst the opposition got thirty-eight (38) votes against the abolition of the jury system in criminal proceedings.
The removal of the jury proceedings in the country’s justice system marks a significant shift in how criminal cases will be decided with judges now solely responsible for verdicts.
Earlier, the Speaker of the House Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas had said the jurors most times responsible for of ‘serious’ criminal cases to delay in Court and that he has no political interest in the removal of the jurors. “I have no political my position is that the jury system is one of the reasons why cases delayed in Court” Speaker Hon. Thomas stated. According to him, if one of out of the ten jurors is absent a particular case will not proceed.
Clause139 of the bill had indicated that there should be jurors of ten in dealing with criminal cases which opposition bench debated for it remained into the African Country’s criminal proceedings. The voting by heads counts was moved by Hon. Daneil Koroma the deputy leader who acted as leader under standing orders 46 of Parliament.
The Minister of Justice Mohamed Lamin Tarawalley Esq. assured the House that the bill is not for any individual or political party, but for the country to continue to be part of the global image.
The Criminal Procedure Act 2024 still requires presidential assent before it becomes law. President Bio is expected to review the bill and make a decision in the coming weeks.
Copyright –Published in print in Expo Times Newspaper on Monday, July 8th, 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
