The rate at which the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party ( SLPP) is targeting different kinds of citizens in its quest to subdue all perceived opposition to its governance is becoming very alarming.
When the SLPP Government is not harassing and arresting officials of the former government of the APC, it is grabbing from the street and charging even an insane man who was speaking his mind as was seen when the well-known mentally-disturbed young man, BLACKERย was incarcerated recently. And the SLPP Government had also recently arrested and charged a stroke victim, Alhaji Kemoh Sesay, for criticizing President Maada Bio.
The SLPP also arrested and chargedย a citizen of Kenema , Mr. Maada Salia, who was convicted and jailed 8 months for going around the town with a microphone criticising the President. A pastor and a teacher were also arrested for allegedly insulting President Bio.
Now, it would seem like it is the Lebanese in Sierra Leone that the SLPP Government wants to crack down on next.
THE NEWSPAPER REPORT BELOW IS CULLED FROM THE FREETOWN DAILY, THE GLOBAL TIMES, A PRO-SLPP NEWSPAPER EDITED BY Aย GOVERNMENT SUPPORTER, MR. SORIE FOFANA.
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Several Lebanese nationals resident in Freetown have been referred to the CID (Criminal Investigations Department) Headquarters for investigation, the Law Officerโs Department has confirmed
Some of them are accused of supporting dissident groups outside Sierra Leone to discredit the SLPP led Government of President Dr Julius Maada Bio ahead of crucial elections next year.
SIERRA LEONE LEBANESE AT PRAYER
Most of the factional leaders within the Lebanese Community in Sierra Leone have been vigorously interrogated by senior CID personnel but released without charge.
One of the ring leaders is a notorious Palestinian of Lebanese extraction, Ashraf Al-Akkad. He has been accused of financing a dissident Lebanese National permanently based in the United Kingdom, Adnan Antar, who calls himself Lebanese Adebayor. Antar is accused of insulting the President and some senior government officials on several social media platforms.
The Government is considering deporting any foreign National proven to be engaged in anti-government activities including endangering the security of the state, according to a senior official in the Law Officerโs Department in Freetown.
The Deputy Minister of Justice, Umaru Napoleon Koroma confirmed to the Global Times yesterday that the Law Officers Department is keen on getting to the bottom of the matter. He refused to comment on individual cases.
Since the legendary Chairman of the Lebanese Community in Sierra Leone, Samir Hassanyeh, was forced out of office by some of his closest allies in 2019, a replacement has not been announced. The Lebanese Community in Sierra Leone has been left without any recognised leader. The community is presently in disarray.
Many people within the country have called on elders of the Lebanese Community to come together and put their house in order.
CID personnel have meanwhile confirmed to the Global Times that they are investigating several Lebanese nationals for tax evasion, electricity abstraction and other economic crimes.
Investigations continue.
