“Justice hurried is justice buried,” Lawyer Kamanda reacts after court sentenced LAJ’s associates to 36 months

Freetown | 28 June 2022 | Vertex Media

Lawyer Alfred Kamanda, one of LAJ’s defence Counsels, has reacted to the Court’s judgement on 11 associates of Boss LAJ, on offences of Riotous Conducts and Disorderly Behaviours. The Judiciary of Sierra Leone tweeted on Monday 27th June that,

“Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba Road Court No.2 has today sentenced 11 persons to 36 months imprisonment each. They were charged with 2 counts of Riotous Conducts & Disorderly Behaviours. At the OSD Headquarters, accused persons rioted & behaved in a disorderly manner.”

This judgement sparked several social media reactions, many describing it as ‘highhandedness’ and disproportionate. One of those reactions is the one made by Lawyer Alfred Kamanda, LAJ’s defence Counsel, who wrote on his Facebook page hours after the judgement was passed on LAJ’s brother Ishmael Rappish Bah, Journalist Ibrahim Koroma aka Prezo Koroma, a music producer Don Creek Beats and wife, LAJ’s co-artist Rahim and wife, and others.

Lawyer Kamanda noted that the accused had ‘limited or no time to talk with their solicitors’, as posted below:

“Harsh, unfair, rushed, insufficient time to prepare their individual defences, limited or no time to talk with their Solicitors which amount to a miscarriage of justice. Justice hurried is justice buried. An Appeal in the High Court is the most appropriate”
~ Lawyer Alfred Kamanda

The 11 persons sentenced to 36 months imprisonment were arrested on the 15th June 2022 at the OSD Headquarters (Benghazi) following the arrest of popular rapper Boss LAJ on the 12th June 2022. Many say they were paying a visit to the detained rapper after news broke out that his dreadlocks have been shaved by the Police, but the Police say they were arrested and charged for Riotous Conducts & Disorderly Behaviours.

LAJ is also expected to appear in court today Tuesday 28 June for alleged ‘robbery with violence’ aganist pump attendants on 12 June at Leonco Gas Station in Congo Cross, Freetown.