Sankoh’s appeal to go ahead

Sierra Leone’s Attorney General and Justice Minister, Solomon Barewa, announced yesterday (Tuesday) that the hearing of rebel leader Foday Sankoh’s appeal against a death sentence would go ahead, despite moves for his release, news organisations reported. “We have put all the legal records in place for Corporal Foday Sankoh’s appeal to start within two weeks,” Reuters reported Barewa as saying. Only last week, news reports had quoted President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah as saying: “If I have to use my clemency to release Sankoh in order to bring a lasting solution to my country, I will do that.” However, in his statement, Barewa suggested that the legal process would not be set aside in favour of any negotiations to pardon Sankoh. “When and after the process of law has prevailed then any further action to pardon Sankoh can take place,” Reuters reported Barewa as saying. The High Court sentenced Sankoh to death last October for his role in the coup d’etat which ousted Kabbah from power in May 1997.