THE PUBLIC ORDER ACT NO 46 OF 1965 - PART 5 THAT CRIMINALISES FREEDOM OF SPEECH HAS BEEN REPEALED BY SIERRA LEONE PARLIAMENT

The  Public  Order  Act,  1965 - REPEALED

PART  V  –  DEFAMATORY  AND  SEDITIOUS LIBEL DEFAMATION 

26.  Any  person who maliciously publishes any defamatory matter knowing  the same  to  be false shall be  guilty of  an offence called  libel and liable on  conviction  to  imprisonment for any term not exceeding  three years  or  to  a  fine  not exceeding one  thousand  leones  or  both. 

27.  Any  person who maliciously publishes any defamatory matter shall be  guilty of an  offence called libel and liable on conviction to a  fine  not exceeding seven  hundred leones  or to imprisonment for a  period not exceeding two years or  to  both  such  fine  and imprisonment.

 28.  (1)  On the trial of  an offence of libel against sections  26  or 27, the accused  having  pleaded such plea  as hereinafter  mentioned,  the  truth of  the matters  charged may  be inquired  into,  but  shall  not  amount  to  a  defence, unless it was for the  public  benefit that the said  matters  charged  should  be  published;  and  to  entitle the accused  to give evidence  of  the truth  of  such  matters charged as a  defence to such charge  it shall  be  necessary for the accused  in pleading  to  the said  charge, to allege  in writing the truth  of  the said matters charged  in  the manner  now  required  in pleading  a fair  comment  and  justification to  an  action  for a  defamation  and  further to allege  in writing that it was for the public  benefit  that  the  said  matters charged should  be  published and  the  particular  fact  or  facts  by  reason  whereof it  was for the  public  benefit  that  the said  matters charged should  be  published  to  which  plea the prosecutor shall  be  at liberty to  reply  generally,  denying  the whole thereof. 

(2)  Where the  alleged libel contains several  charges, and the accused  fails  in  proof  of the  truth of any one of the matters alleged in  it,  or  where  the alleged  libel is general and the accused  fails to prove  so  much of the  plea under this section  as would  justify the libel, the Court  shall find  the  accused  guilty, and it shall  be  competent for the Court, in pronouncing sentence, to  consider  whether the guilty of the  accused is aggravated  or mitigated by the said  plea, and by
the evidence  given to  prove  or  disprove the same. 

(3) The matter charged  in the  alleged  libel complained  of  by  such  charge  shall be  presumed  to be  false, and the truth thereof  shall in no  case be  inquired  into  in the absence  of  such  plea as mentioned in  subsection  (1). 

(4)  IN  addition to  such  plea it shall be  competent to  the  defendant  to plead  a plea  of  not  guilty. 

(5) Subject to  the  provisions  of this  section,  nothing  in  this  Part contained shall take away  or prejudice any defence under the plea  of  not  guilty which  is now competent to  the  defendant to  make  under such plea to any  charge  brought under sections  26  or  27. Publication absolutely privileged. Cases in publication is conditionally privileged.

 29.  No person  shall be  criminally liable for the  publication  of  defamatory matter in  the  following  cases— 

a)  where the matter is  published  by  the  Governor-General  or  by  Order  of  the  Governor-General  in  any  official document,  Gazette, or  proceeding;  or 

b)  where the  publication  is made  in  a  petition to the  Governor-General  or  to  a Minister; 

c)  where the  publication takes  place in any proceeding  held  before  or under the authority of  any court by law established  or  under any  Act  or  Order  or  under  the authority  of  the  Governor-General  or  of  a Minister;  or 

d)  where the  publication takes  place sin any  official report made by a  person appointed to hold  an  inquiry under the  authority  of  any  Act  or  Order  or  of  the  Governor-General  or a  Minister;  or 

e)  where the matter is  published  concerning  a  person  subject to  military discipline  for the time being and relates to  his conduct  as a  person  subject  to  such  discipline,  and  is  published  by  some  person  having authority  over  him  in  respect  of  such  conduct;  or 

f) where the  publication is  contained in  any  communication  between Ministers, Ministries and  public  officers, members of the Armed  Forces; public  officers and members  of  the Armed  Forces;  members  of  the  Armed Forces, public officers  in  the  course of  their respective  duties. 

30.  No person  shall be  criminally liable for the  publication  of  a  defamatory  matter in  the  following  cases— 

a)  where the  defamatory matter consists of an  extract from,  or  an  abstract  of,  a petition to, or a  Gazette  or document  published  by  or  under  the authority  of, the  Governor-General  or  a Minister and  the  publication is made without  express  malice to  the  person  defamed;  or 

b)  where the  defamatory matter constitutes, in  whole  or  in  part a fair  report,  for the information  of the public, of  any proceeding  of  any  Court, whether  preliminary  or  final;  or  of  any public  proceeding  of  any body constituted  or  authorised  to  hold  such  proceeding, by  any Act  or Order or of  any public meeting  so  far as  the public is concerned  in  the matter published if, in  every case  the publication is made  without  express malice to  the person  defamed;  or 

c)  where the  publication  is for the information  of  the  public  at  the request of any  Minister  or  public  officer,  or where the  defamatory  matter is  any  notice  or  report  issued  by  a department  of  Government  or  public  officer, for the information  of  the  public, and  where in  every such  case the  publication  is made  without express malice to  the person  defamed;  or 

d)  where the  defamatory matter consists of  fair  comment  wither  on  any matter the publication of  which  or  on nay  report  which, is  referred  to in  sections  26  to 29  or in this section;  or e)  where the  defamatory matter consists of  fair  comment  upon the  public conduct  of  any person  in public affairs,  or  upon  the  public  conduct  of  any  person  employed in  the  public  service in  the  discharge  of  his public duties,  or  upon  the character  of  any such  persons so  as it appears by  such  conduct; or 

f) where the  defamatory matter consists of  fair  comment  on  any  published  book  or other  literary production,  or any composition  or  work  of art, or  performance publicly  exhibited,  or  any subject; or  of  the character  of  the author  of  such  book, production,  composition, work  of  art,  or  the person  exhibiting such  performance,  so  far as their characters may appear  therefrom  respectively; or

g)  where the  publication is  in  good  faith  for  the  purpose  of  seeking  remedy  or  redress  for  any  private or  public wrong  or  grievance  from  a person  who  has  or  is  reasonably  believed  by  the  person  publishing to  have, the right  to  remedy  or  redress such  wrong  or  grievance;  or 

h)  where the  publication is  made in  good  faith  by  a person  having  any  lawful  authority  over  another,  and  is  made by  him  in the  course  of  a censure  passed  by  him  on the conduct  of  that  other,  in  matters to  which  such lawful  authority relates; or 

i) where the  publication is  made on  the  invitation  of  the  person  defamed;  or

j) or where the  publication is  made in  order  to  answer  or  refute  some  other  defamatory  matter published  by  the person  defamed, concerning  the  person  making  the  publication;  or 

k)  where the  defamatory matter constitutes an  answer to  inquiries made  of  the  person  publishing  it, relating  to some  subject as to  which  the  person  by  whom  or  on  whose behalf  the inquiry is made, has,  or  on  reasonable grounds is believed by  the  person  publishing  to  have, an interest in  knowing  the truth,  and if the publication is made  in  good  faith  for the  purpose of  giving  information  in  respect  of that matter to  that person; or 

l) where the  defamatory matter constitutes information  given  to  the person  to whom  the defamatory matter is published  with  respect, to  some  subject  as  to  which  he  h as, or  is  on  reasonable  grounds  believed to  have, such  an  interest in  knowing  the truth,  as to  make  the conduct of  the  person  giving  the information reasonable in the circumstances: 

Provided that  as  regards  paragraphs  (h),  (i),  (j)  and  (k), the  person  making  the  publication  honestly  believes the matter published  is  relevant  to  the matter the existence of  which  may excuse the  publication  of  defamatory matter, and the manner  and extent  of  the publication do  not  exceed  what is  reasonably sufficient  for the  occasion; and as regards paragraph  (l)  that the  defamatory matter is relevant  to  the  subject therein  mentioned;  and  that it is either true or  is  made without  malice to  the person  defamed and in  the  honest  believe, on  reasonable  grounds, that  it  is  true. 

Protection of innocent sellers. Publication of  false news. Offences.

 31.  The  sale by  any person  of  any  book, pamphlet, or other  printed  or  written  matter or, of any number or  part  of  any periodical  is  not  a  publication thereof  for the purposes  of  this  Part,  unless  such  person  knows that  such  book pamphlet or  written  matter, or  number or  part, contains  defamatory matter;  or, in  the case  of  any  part  or  number  of any periodical  that such  periodical habitually contains  defamatory matter.

 32.  (1)  Any person  who  publishes  any false statement,  rumour  or  report  which  is likely to  cause  fear or  alarm,  to the public or to  disturb the  public peace shall be  guilty of an  offence and liable  on  conviction to  a fine not  exceeding three  hundred leones  or to  imprisonment for a period  not exceeding twelve months, or  to  both such  fine  and imprisonment. 

(2)  Any  person who publishes any  false statement, rumour  or  report  which  is calculated  to  bring  into  disrepute any person  who  holds  an  office under the Constitution,  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties shall be  guilty of an  offence and liable on conviction to a  fine  not exceeding five hundred  leones or  to  imprisonment not exceeding two years  or both. 

(3)  Any  person who publishes any  false statement, rumour  or  report  which  is likely to injure the credit  or reputation of Sierra Leone or the  Government shall be  guilty of an  offence and liable  on conviction  to a  fine  not exceeding three hundred leones  or  to  imprisonment  for a term  not  exceeding  twelve months  or  both. 

(4) This section shall not apply any defamatory matter exempted under the provisions of section                    30. 

(5)  It  is  no  defence to  a charge  under this  section that  the  person  charged  did  not  know  or  did  not  have  reason  to believe  that the statement, rumour  or  report  was  false,  unless he  proves  that  before  he  communicated such statement, rumour or  report,  he took reasonable measures to  verify the  accuracy of this statement,  rumour, or report. 

SEDITIOUS LIBEL 33.  

(1) Any  person  who— 

a)  does  or attempts  to  do,  or makes any  preparation to  do,  or  conspires  with  any  person  to  do, any  act  with  a seditious  intention;  or 

b)  utters any  seditious  words;  or 

c)  prints,  publishes, sells,  offers for sale,  distributes or  reproduces any seditious  publication; or

 

d)  imports any seditious  publication,  unless  he  has  no  reason  to  believe  that it is seditious, shall be  guilty of an offence and liable for a  first  offence  to  imprisonment for a term  not exceeding three  years,  or to a fine  not  exceeding  one thousand  leones  or  to  both  such  imprisonment  and  fine,  and  for a  subsequent  offence shall  be imprisoned  for a term  not  exceeding  seven   years, and every such  seditious publication  shall be  forfeited  to the Government. Legal proceedings. Evidence. Governor-General may prohibit publication of newspapers  in certain circumstances. Interpretation. 

34.  (1)  No  prosecution  for  an  offence  under  section  33  shall  be  begun  except  within  six  months after  the offence is committed. (2)  A  person  shall not be  prosecuted for an  offence under  section  33  without  the written  consent of  the Attorney General. 

35.  No  person  shall  be  convicted of  an  offence under section  33  on  the  uncorroborated testimony  of  one  witness  only. 

36.  (1)  Where  any  person  convicted  of  an  offence  under sections  26,  27,  32  or  33  or  of  an  attempt  or a  conspiracy  to commit or  of complicity in, any such offences, is a  publisher,  the Court shall forthwith send  a  report  of  such  a case  to the Governor-General. 

(2)  The  Governor-General may either  of  his own motion  or on  the recommendation  of  the Court if  in  his opinion  the interest  of public  order, public  safety, public defence or  public  morality so  requires,  by  order prohibit the publication of  the  newspaper in  which  the  defamatory, seditious  or  false matter appears,  for  any  period  not  exceeding  six months. 

(3)  Any  person who fails to comply with  an  order made  by  the  Governor-General under subsection  (2) shall  be  guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to  be imprisoned for  a period  not exceeding eighteen months. 

(4) It  shall  be  an  offence  to  begin or  continue  to  publish  any  newspaper  under  the substantial  management  of  any publisher in  respect  of  whose  newspaper an  Order  had  been  made under subsection  (2)  unless the  order  is  no  longer in  force and  any person  guilty of an  offence  under this  section shall be  liable on  conviction  to be  imprisoned for a period  not  exceeding eighteen  months. 

(5) For  the  purpose  of this  section— 

“publisher” means any  printer,  editor  or  proprietor  of  a  newspaper and every  agent  or employee  or  other person  acting  on  the  instructions  of  any  such  editor  or  proprietor,  or  any  person  concerned  with  the management  of  a  newspaper; 

“proprietor” includes as  well as the sole  proprietor  of  any  newspaper, as  also in the case  of a  divided proprietorship  the  person  who  as partners or  otherwise  represent and are  responsible  for any  share or  interest in the  newspaper as  between themselves and  the persons in like manner  representing  or responsible for the other shares  or  interests therein and  no  other  person; 

“newspaper”  means  any paper  containing  public  news  or occurrences, or  any  remarks or  observations therein,  printed for sale and  published periodically or  in  parts or  numbers. 

37.  In this Part— “defamatory matter” means any matter  which if published  of and concerning a  person (deceased  or alive) is likely  to  expose  him  to  public  hatred,  contempt  or ridicule  or  to  damage  him  in  his trade, business, profession, calling,  or  office  whether  such  matter be expressed in  spoken  words  or in  any  audible  sounds  or in  words legibly  marked or  in  any substance  whatever or  by  any sign  or  object signifying  such  matter otherwise than  by  words  wither  directly or  by insinuation or irony; 

“import” means to  being  into  Sierra  Leone; 

“periodical  publication” includes every  publication issued  periodically  or  in  parts  or  numbers  at  intervals whether  regular  or irregular; 

“seditious  intention”  includes an  intention— 

i.     to  bring into  hatred  or  contempt  or  to  excite  disaffection  against  the  person  of  Her Majesty,  her Heirs or  successors, or  the Governor-General  or the  Cabinet or the  administration  of the Government  of  Sierra  Leone  as  by  law established; 

ii. or to  excite  citizens  of  Sierra Leone  or  other  residents in  Sierra  Leone to  attempt  to  procure  the alteration,  otherwise than  by  lawful  means, of  any  other matter in  Sierra  Leone  as  by  law established; 

iii. or to  bring  into  hatred  or  contempt  or to  excite  disaffection against the administration  of  justice in Sierra Leone; 

iv.or to  raise  discontent  or  disaffection amongst  citizens of  Sierra  Leone  or  other  residents in  Sierra Leone; 

v.or to  encourage  or  promote feelings  of ill-will and hostility between different  tribes  or nationalities or between  persons  of  different  religious  faith  in  Sierra Leone;

 but  does  not  include an  intention—

a)  to show that Her Majesty has  been misled  or  mistaken in any of her measures; or 

b)  to point  out errors or  defects in  the government or Constitution  of  Sierra Leone  as  by  law established  or  a legislation  or  in  the  administration  of  justice  with  a  view  to  the  remedying of  such  errors  or  defects;  or

c)  to persuade  the  Citizens or  inhabitants  of  Sierra Leone  to  attempt to  procure by  lawful  means the alteration of  any matter in  Sierra  Leone  as by  law established;  or  

d)  to point  out,  with  a  view to  their removal, any  matters  which are  producing,  or  have  a tendency  to  produce, feelings  of ill-will and enmity  between  different  classes of the  population of Sierra Leone; and 

in  determining  whether the intention with which  any act  was done, any words  were spoken  or  any  document  was published,  was  or  was  not  seditious, every  person  shall  be  deemed to  intend  the  consequences  which  would  naturally follow  from  his conduct  at  the time  and  under the  circumstances in  which  he  so  conducted  himself: 

“seditious  publication” means a publication  having  a seditious  intention; 

“seditious  words” means words  having  a seditious  intention;

 “to publish” includes— 

a)  with  reference  to  spoken  words  or  audible  sounds, to  speak such  words  or  make such  sounds in  the hearing  of  another  person;  

b)  in all other cases, to cause,  directly or  indirectly the print,  writing,  painting, effigy  or  other means by  which the  defamatory, seditious  or  false  matter is conveyed, to be  so  dealt with, either  by exhibition,  reading,  recitation, description,  delivery or  otherwise, so that the  defamatory, seditious or  false meaning  thereof  become  known  or  is  likely  to  become  known  to  any  person  (including  the class of  persons or  person  whom  the defamatory,  seditious  or  false matter may be  understood  to refer to).