By Ragan M. Conteh

It’s evident that Criminal Procedure Act 2024 has become one of the most much-talked about issues in the country.

It is due to its controversial clauses it contains.

However, Opposition Chief Whip, Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara has succinctly demystified the intricacies of the Act as he rightly said that this particular law is one of the best that Sierra Leoneans should embrace it considering its enormous opportunities.

According to the Opposition Chief Whip, it is a law that could address issues of preliminary investigations, custodians tendencies which imply that there were minor cases in which perpetrators have to spend more years in prison which in turn could cost more burden on the government but with the new Act these issues would now become history.

Additionally, he mentioned that the new Act establishes that with such crimes the culprits should not be imprisoned but to be mandated to involve into community domestic chores as it is applicable in other countries.

He further went on to clarify that the issue of the abolition of jury system came as a surprised to him because during the discussion such was not mentioned.

He said what the Attorney General presented to them was to reduce the number of jurors from 12- 10.

He said in most cases those jurors do absent from hearings and as result, it’s prudent for them to be reduced for speedy trials.

He reiterated that from that angle they supported the motion for the reduction of jurors from 12-10 and they went ahead to include the quorum.

Moreover, Opposition Chief Whip emphasized that he only took notice of the unfortunate occurrence after they had enacted the bill.

And only for him to learn that the abolition of jury system was part of the Act which was never debated.

He called on the President to serve as a gatekeeper under the current circumstances.

“He is the only gentleman that has the power to save the image of parliament and to save the democratic principles of the land.”