(RSF/IFEX) – Director of Public Prosecution Oladipoh Robin Mason has finally requested the extradition of the three children of ruling party parliamentarian Fatmata Hassan Komeh, who allegedly had a role in the May 2005 beating of “For Di People” acting editor, Harry Yansaneh. Ahmed Komeh, Bai Bureh Komeh and Aminata Komeh fled to the United […]
(RSF/IFEX) – Director of Public Prosecution Oladipoh Robin Mason has finally requested the extradition of the three children of ruling party parliamentarian Fatmata Hassan Komeh, who allegedly had a role in the May 2005 beating of “For Di People” acting editor, Harry Yansaneh.
Ahmed Komeh, Bai Bureh Komeh and Aminata Komeh fled to the United Kingdom after Yansaneh died as a result of his injuries two-and-a-half months later.
There was such a media outcry on the first anniversary of Yansaneh’s death on 28 July that, after blocking the case for six months, the justice ministry asked the High Court to request their extradition.
State Counsel Monfred Momoh Sesay confirmed to Freetown High Court Judge Claudia Taylor on 8 August 2006 that an investigation was still underway. Proceedings were originally initiated in August 2005, and a jury concluded at a preliminary hearing before Judge Adrian Fisher in February that Yansaneh’s death was a case of involuntary manslaughter in which several persons, including Komeh’s three children, were involved.
The state counsel acknowledged to Judge Taylor that there was sufficient evidence that Harry Yansaneh “died as a result of grievous bodily harm” inflicted “with intent to wound”. This falls under a British law dating back to 1861, the Offences Against The Person Act, which should mean that extradition from the United Kingdom is possible.
