Freetown |9th November 2023|Vertex Media
By Ibrahim Sorious Samura
Four (4) male inmates have been released today from the Sierra Leone Correctional Centre in Freetown, as FIFA Council Member Madam and founder of Fashion For Change and Football For Reform, Isha Johansen generously paid their fines at the end of their jail term. The said inmates already completed their jail terms months ago, but they were still in custody for failure to pay their corresponding fines levied against.
Following a surprise visit by the global football administrator and philanthropist Isha Johansen and the Fashion For Change team on Wednesday, she accepted a plea from the authorities to secure the release of these 4 inmates. A total payment of Le 17 million was paid on Thursday morning by Madam Johansen through the Fashion For Change and Football For Reform initiatives, which primarily focus on capability building, legal aid, training and the successful integration of inmates into society.
It can be recalled that Madam Johansen extended her goodwill and humanitarian gesture to the Women’s Correctional Centre on International Women’s Day (8th March, 2023), where she secured the release of 9 female inmates by paying their fines. This monumental occasion was a glimmer of hope for many inmates in detention, following Isha’s thoughtfulness and magnanimity.
The following persons were released today:
- 27-year-old Mohamed Turay from Waterloo. He has served his 15-month jail term for fraudulent conversion.
- 25-year-old Augustine Kokofele from Lungi. He has served his 15-month jail term for disorderly behaviour.
- 22-year-old John Lamin from Kenema, but stays at Akram in Freetown. He has served his 15-month jail term for riotous conduct; and
- 20-year-old Talton Ndawoma Thomas from Kissy Roda, Freetown. He has spent 18 months in prison for riotous conduct.
Director of Operations at the Sierra Leone Correctional Service, Colonel BN Gogra expresses his appreciation for the kind gesture from Madam Isha Johansen and the team, and further calls for public support to decongest the prisons.
Yasmine Koroma, Legal representative for Fashion For Change, also admonished the inmates to abstain from crimes as they integrate back into society and use this moment to positively reposition themselves for a brighter future.
It is the intention of Madam Johansen to incorporate the boys in the upcoming CAF Licence D Coaching course at the Centre.
The inmates were so excited at the end of the process, as they are now free to go back home and rebuild. They expressed their appreciation to Madam Johansen and the team for the timely intervention. Otherwise, they would still continue to be in custody if the fines were not paid, irrespective of their jail terms.
At the climax, a financial assistance of Le 600 was given to each of them.
