02/22/2025
The Dutch journalist Sophia Van Leeuwen gives an exclusive update on what really happen to her during her being in CID Head quarter freetown.
What exactly happened?
I was on my way to a location where Jos Leijdekkers - according to my sources - was. There, I drove into a roadblock. The police saw my Dutch passport, and I was immediately arrested. They confiscated everything: passport, phone, camera. 'We've got her', I heard. '
We have her.' With a truck full of men with red berets, sunglasses, and guns, I was escorted through Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. With sirens blaring to the police station.
Were you travelling alone?
I was with a fellow journalist from Sierra Leone, Joseph Turay, who has since fled the country.
Sophie last Sunday, just after she got her passport back.Sophie last Sunday, just after she got her passport back.
How did they treat you?
For two days, I was interrog*ted by the top of the police. They called me a 'danger to national security'. I was in the 'wrong place' and was suspected of espionage. They didn't abuse me, but I was put under a lot of pressure. In total, I was interrog*ted for about 15 hours without a break and food. That was not a pleasant experience. The unit that interrog*ted me is also responsible for investig*ting drug crime in Sierra Leone.
You couldn’t leave the country for four days.
What was that like?
They said I was free to do my work, but they had taken my passport and my equipment. So working was out of the question. Sunday evening, I got my stuff back. It turned out they had erased all the images. Then, I left Sierra Leone as soon as possible. Sophie van Leeuwen European Union in Sierra Leone U.S. Embassy Freetown, Sierra Leone
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