MONROVIA, October 14 (LINA) -Acting Justice Minister and Attorney-General, Cllr. Benedict Sannoh, has disclosed that the Liberia National Police (LNP) has assumed full security control over the Ebola crisis with the withdrawal of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL).
He said with support from the Bureau of Immigration, the LNP continues to escort patients, provide protection for Ebola Treatment Centers (ETCs), and the Red Cross Team and assist in lifting and removal of bodies from the various communities and ETCs to crematoriums as well as the cremation of bodies.
According to the Liberia News Agency, Cllr. Sannoh made the disclosure Monday at the Temple of Justice in remarks at the formal opening of the Supreme Court of Liberia for its October Term 2014.
The acting Dean of the Supreme Court Bench, further informed the audience that over the past months, the frequency of riots, roadblocks and civil disobedience, including attacks against police officers in communities over Ebola-related bodies, have reduced to zero.
He also acknowledged the rapid response of the Red Cross Teams backed
by the LNP, and the concerted sensitization and foot outreach by personnel of the Community Relations Division of the LNP.
He said to enable it discharge these functions effectively, the Liberia National Police trains 100 officers weekly on Ebola preventive measures, and has taken steps to maintain law and order without arrests and custodial investigation, except for very serious offences such as murder, armed robbery and rape.
According to Cllr. Sannoh, the Bureau of Immigration in addition to providing support to the LNP, has deployed additional manpower along land borders with increased patrols in a bid to stop the illegal entry and cross-border spread of the Ebola disease.
He explained that the Solicitor General in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders and counterparts, and the support of 18 newly-trained city solicitors, has established a pre-trial Detention Working Group for the purpose of addressing the issue of prolonged pre-trial detention.
”Approximately 518 pre-trial detainees have been released nationwide through the prison decongestion program since August 2014.
He added that all correction facilities continue to trace, screen and possibly quarantine inmates, officers and others as appropriate who are found to be symptomatic of the Ebola virus or who may have come in contact with the suspected inmates,” he disclosed.
LINA RS/TSS/PTK/JKW