By Sulaiman Jalloh
President Julius Maada Bio on Monday, January 1st, 2024, pardoned three hundred and fifty-two inmates across the country, including popular rapper Alhaji Amadu Bah alias LAJ or King Boss LA.
Of the pardoned inmates, eleven were females – five from Freetown and six from the regions. This is the largest number of pardoned inmates granted so far by President Bio in a single day, and it is hoped that it will bring relief to the freed inmates and their families.
According to the Acting Director of Correctional Service Sierra Leone, Colonel Sheik Sulaiman Masaaquoi, those pardoned are among those who willingly turned themselves in to prison authorities after the November 26th 2023 failed coup, and those with minor crimes, adding those freed by the President’s amnesty were advised to be good citizens and to live by example.
The Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah witnessed the release of the famous rapper King Boss LAJ on behalf of the government. He noted that his visit showed government’s commitment to good governance and national unity regardless of political differences and cultural diversity.
According to him, the president had already addressed the nation and called for national interest above all else, instead of personal gain. The Minister used the occasion to call on Sierra Leoneans to be good citizens and to support the government in achieving its development agenda.
Reacting to his release, the rapper Alhaji Amadu Bah thanked President Bio for his pardon. He also thanked the First Lady of Sierra Leone, the entertainment industry, family members, and supporters of his musical group – Red Flag Movement, for their prayers and plea for presidential pardon.
It could be recalled that just before New Year’s Day, the entertainment industry headed by entertainment ambassador Kao Denero [stage name] was seen in a video with the First Lady of the Republic pleading to President Bio for the release of LAJ who was sentenced in March 2023 to 9 years in prison.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, Januarys 1st, 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)