Section 28: Punishment and deportation.

(1) Any person who, being a prohibited immigrant at the time of his entry into Sierra Leone, enters Sierra Leone except in accordance with the provisions of this Act, shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term of six months and to be deported. (2) No person who comes within the definition of a prohibited immigrant shall be released from the operation of this Act or be allowed to be or remain in Sierra Leone merely because he has not been notified not to enter Sierra Leone or because he may have been allowed to enter Sierra Leone through an oversight or through want of knowledge that he was a prohibited immigrant, but no person shall be sentenced to imprisonment under subsection (1) if he can satisfy the Magistrate that he did not know that he was a prohibited immigrant and that his ignorance was not due to any negligence or bad faith on his part. Proof adduced after any person has entered Sierra Leone that he is of any of the classes whose entry is prohibited shall render such person liable to be deported forthwith as a prohibited immigrant. (3) When arrangements have been made for the deportation of a person undergoing a sentence of imprisonment imposed under sub-section (1) such person may be taken and placed on board the vessel, aircraft, motor or other vehicle on which he is to be deported, notwithstanding that the full term of imprisonment has not been served, and shall be deemed to be in legal custody whilst so placed and until the vessel, aircraft, motor or other vehicle finally leaves Sierra Leone.