The Criminal Investigation Department(CID) Headquarters in Sierra Leone has organized a two day Retreat on 2023 Elections Preparedness at the Sahara Hotel in Bo.
It could be recalled that when the current Head of Crime Management in the person of Mr R.P.G. Roberts(Esq) assumed command in that enviable position, with the support of the then Director of Crime Management who now happens to be the Current Inspector General Of Police (IGP), Mr William Fayiah Sellu, they both decided to transform the department by introducing innovations that would, among others, help to surmount the shortcomings of Investigators, and also sharpen and shape professional ethics.
The November session at the Sahara Hotel in Bo featured prominent issues around elections including potential threats and violence, the need for Crime Officers to be adequately and sufficiently abreast with the Rule of Law and the dos and donts, with a particular reference on the Offences Act as enshrined in the Public Elections Act of 2022 as well as Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, inadequacies in criminal Investigations, mismanagement of Case and Enquiry Files, successful investigation and eventual prosecution of cases were also prime issues discussed.
The Facilitators were exclusively drawn from the Judiciary of Sierra Leone and amongst them were: the Right Hon. Justice Monfread Momoh Sesay of the Appeal Court of Sierra Leone, Hon.Abu Bakarr Sannoh, Resident Judge Bo, Mr Lyod Jusu, Resident Magistrate Bo, and Mr Augustine Sheku,(Esq) Principal State Counsel Bo who served as resource personalities on account of their vast reservoir of knowledge.
A similar one has been held in Portloko and all agreed that the two retreats have considerably helped to rehabilitate and quicken the minds of Crime Officers and also sharpened their skills and knowledge in the investigation of criminal cases generally, as the lectures were appropriately insightful.
Detective Commissioner of Police, Mr RPG Roberts (Esq), appreciated the Inspector General of Police, Mr William Fayiah Sellu, for giving him the opportunity to continue in the strides to widen the knowledge of Crime Officers in various disciplines in the management of crime, which he described as a Social Science.
It’s apparent that since the assumption of duty of Mr RPG Roberts (Esq), the Department has got considerable number of convictions in cases before the courts on cases before Magistrates and Judges nationwide.
At the auspicious event (2022), the Assistant Organisers were Detective Chief Superintendent of Police, Mrs Winifred “Tholley” Akimbobola, Detective Deputy Superintendents of Police, Miller Bangura, Foday Gbonda, Detective Inspector Kassie Gbama, Line Manager Homicide CID H.Quts.(Scribe) and Ag.Legal One(1) of the SLP, Detective Assistant Superintendent of Police, Dalia Wellington (Esq) were applauded for rendering their untiring efforts in making the program successful.
Giving the vote of thanks, the Crime Officer Bonthe Division, Detective Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr Michael Kelly Dumbuya, showered praises on the Inspector General of Police, Mr William Fayiah Sellu and the astute and dynamic Head of CID, Mr RPG Roberts for not only organising this all important academic retreat but for its continuity, owing to the fact that this development is their” baby.”
He thanked the Proficient Facilitators and commended their bravery as professional resource personalities with reservoir of knowledge.
He furthered that their lectures were enchanting and will enhance the capabilities of officers in the discharge of their duties and also widen their horizons whilst at the same time help to rehabilitate their minds and sharpen their skills and knowledge in crime.
The Ceremony was climaxed with the issuance of Certificates to all participants coupled with a note of special appreciation to the Regional Commander South, AIG Harold A.M Hanciles and Detective Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr John Roland Saffa, Regional Crime Officer South for their moral and financial support towards the event.
