They Say You Get Life Imprisonment for Sex Crimes... But This Country Has Not a Single Police Car

Police and Judiciary Staff Shortage in Sierra Leone

West African country Sierra Leone, struggling with severe sexual assault crimes, has declared a 'national state of emergency' for the fifth consecutive year. However, despite the full efforts of local police and judicial authorities, sexual crimes reportedly continue unabated. Why is Sierra Leone powerless in the face of sexual crimes? The British public broadcaster BBC has highlighted the persistent issues involved in Sierra Leone's investigation and trial processes.

In an article published on the 28th (local time), BBC reported that Sierra Leone has been under a national state of emergency due to sexual assault issues for five years this year. The state of emergency was declared in 2019 by then-President Julius Maada Bio, who took a strong stance by stating, "Anyone who commits sexual assault against a minor will be sentenced to life imprisonment."

Protest slogans of Sierra Leonean women against sexual assault crimes
[Image source=BBC capture]

According to local police statistics, sexual assault cases in Sierra Leone surged to 8,505 in 2018, doubling compared to the previous year. Moreover, one-third of all sexual assault victims were minors. The problem persists even after the declaration of the state of emergency. Although a new law imposing strict punishment on sexual offenders was enacted, Sierra Leone's sexual crime issues remain unresolved. For example, BBC highlighted a horrific sexual assault case that occurred locally in June last year. The victim was a child only three years old. The police immediately began tracking the suspect upon receiving the report, but nearly a year after the incident, the perpetrator has not been caught.

So why is Sierra Leone's public authority powerless in the face of sexual crime cases? Local legal experts cite 'lack of manpower' as the biggest cause. As of last year, more than 10,000 sexual assault cases occur annually in Sierra Leone, but only 5% of these cases are filed in the High Court. There is a severe shortage of police officers to conduct investigations, and all of them are under extreme financial pressure, to the extent that even securing a decent police vehicle is difficult.

Regarding this, Abu Bakar Kanu, a sergeant leading the Makeni Police Station, told the BBC, "We receive four child sexual assault cases every week, but it is difficult to arrest suspects," adding, "None of the seven police departments under our jurisdiction have a vehicle. We do not have the time to arrive promptly and do the right thing when we receive reports."

Even if they succeed in arresting a suspect, bringing them before the court is another issue. In Sierra Leone, only the Minister of Justice has the authority to sign documents related to the trial of sexual assault cases, and due to a shortage of personnel in the Ministry of Justice, the related procedures are delayed.

Joseph Sessay, a government legal advisor, told the media, "It is impossible for other judges or lawyers to sign indictments related to sexual crime cases," pointing out, "Since the 2019 amendment of the new law, only the Minister of Justice is authorized to sign indictments related to sexual crimes, which has increased difficulties."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.