Section 10, The Geneva Conventions Act, 2012

(1) Subject to this section, it shall not be lawful for anyperson, without the consent in writing of the Minister or a person authorized in writing by the Minister to give consent under this section to use or display for any purpose whatsoever any of the following:- (a) the emblem of a red cross with vertical and horizontal arms of the same length on, and completely surrounded by, a white ground, or the designation “Red Cross” or “Geneva Cross” (b) the emblem of a red crescent moon on, and completely surrounded by, a white ground, or the designation “Red Crescent” (c) the emblem in red on, and completely surrounded by, a white ground, that is to say, a lion passing from right to left of, and with its face turned towards, the observer, holding erect in its raised right forepaw a scimitar, with appearing above the lion’s back, the upper half of the sun shooting forth rays, or the designation “Red Lion and Sun”. (d) any design consisting of a white or silver cross with vertical and horizontal arms of the same length on, and completely surrounded by, a red ground, being the heraldic emblem of the Swiss Confederation; (e) the sign of an equilateral blue triangle on, and completely surrounded by, an orange ground, being the international distinctive sign of civil defence; (f) any of the distinctive signals specified in Chapter III of Annex I to the First Protocol, being the signals of identification for medical units and transports; (g) the sign consisting of a group of three bright orange circles of equal size, placed on the same axis, the distance between each circle being one radius being the international special sign for works and installations containing dangerous forces; (h) any emblem or designation protected under any additional protocol to the Convention to which the Republic of Sierra Leone is a party; (i) any design, wording or signal so nearly resembling any of the emblems, designations, signs or signals specified in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) or (h) as to be capable of being mistaken for, or, as the case may be, understood as referring to, one of those emblems, designations, signs or signals; Use of red cross and other emblems. No. 14 Geneva Conventions Act 2012 No. 14 Geneva Conventions Act 201212 13 (j) such other flags, emblems, designations, signs, signals, designs, wordings, identity cards, information cards, insignia or uniforms as are prescribed for the purposes of giving effect to the Conventions or Protocols. (2) Nothing in subsection (1) shall prevent the use of the emblem and title of the Red Cross by the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society and its officers and members in accordance with the provisions of the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society Act, and any rules made under it. (3) The Minister shall not give consent for the use of the emblems, signs or designations refered to under subsection (1) except to give effect to the Conventions or Protocols and may refuse or withdraw the consent. (4) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty million leones or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or to both the fine and imprisonment. (5) Where a person is convicted of an offence under subsection (1), the court may in addition to the term of imprisonment or fine order the forfeiture to the State, the goods in connection with which the emblem was used by that person. (6) Where an offence under this section is committed by a body of persons– (a) in the case of a body corporate every director or officer of that body corporate commits that offence; and (b) in the case of a firm or partnership, every partner commits that offence. (7) A person shall not be convicted of an offence by virtue of subsection (6) if it is proved that the offence was committed without that person’s knowledge, connivance or that due diligence was exercised by that person to prevent the commission of the offence. PART V–MISCELLANEOUS