'COCAINE TRAFFICKERS IN FOR A RUDE SHOCK'

Acting Chief Justice of Sierra Leone Thursday said those involved in
the weekend Cocaine saga are in for a very rude shock.

Justice Umu Hawa Tejan-Jalloh told a symposium organised by Manifesto
99 and the justice sector coordination office marking the
International Day of Justice in Freetown that illicit drugs destroy
the youth and the image of the country.

"It is no longer business as usual in other countries such as
Singapore , Thailand and Malaysia . There is a severe punishment for
drug trafficking," she said.

Tejan-Jalloh noted that similar punishment must be applied to those
involved in similar heinous crimes that undermine and destroy the
country's economy.

"These include economic offences but not limited to money laundering,
logging and child trafficking," she said.

She appealed to the legislature to look into such laws with a view to
revising drug addiction in order to reflect the social, economic and
political implication in a view to removing the practice which is
increasingly becoming a menace to the society.

Executive Director of Manifesto 99 Abdul Rahim Kamara said as they
were commemorating the day on which the international community
adopted the Rome statute of International Criminal Court (ICC) in
1988, Sierra Leone cannot be a safe haven for people who violate
international laws.

Giving his keynote address Attorney General and Minister of Justice
Abdul Serry Kamal said his government would continue to see to it that
the administration of justice and respect for the Rule of Law is
implemented.

"We are committed to abetting impunity, improving security and
domesticating Rome statute," he said.