November 2022 Coup: Fresh Court Martial begins today

AYV News, October 17, 2022

Fresh Court Martial kicks off today October 17, 2024 for an additional 13  soldiers of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces for their involvement in the failed Coup of November 26, 2023.

Director of Defence Public Relations and Information in the Force, Colonel Issa Bangura said the second pre-trial sessions of the personnel will commence at the RSLAF Court Martial on Wilkinson Road, Cockerill Barracks in Freetown

He said this follows the completion of the Commanding Officers’ Investigations on the accused persons.

The accused personnel were charged for their various alleged roles in the Subversion of the State and the 26th November, 2023 Failed Coup d’état. The charges include but not limited to Mutiny, Failure to Suppress Mutiny, Desertion, Aiding the Enemy, Communicating with the Enemy and Conduct to the Prejudice of Military Discipline, among others.

The Administrative Head of the General Court Martial of Sierra Leone, Major Bai Farama Sesay has announced that a new Court Martial Board has been constituted to try two sets of military personnel involved in both the July 29 Subversion and November 26 Coup last year.

The members of the new Board are as follows:

1. Lawyer Mark Ngegba

(Judge Advocate)

2. Colonel SMO George

(Court Martial President)

3. Lieutenant Colonel PS Brima

(Member)

4. Major BN Sillah

(Member)

5. Major I Samura

(Member)

6. Major S Falama

(Member)

7. Major T Senesie

(Member)

8. Warrant Officer 1 Fofanah

(Member)

The first set of military personnel to be tried by the new Board comprises six (6) accused persons. The title of this trial is “The State versus Major Patrick Abu Ordende Sesay alias PAO and 5 Others”.

The accused persons for the said trial are as follows:

1. Major Patrick Abu Ordende Sesay alias PAO (1st Accused)
2. Major Juana Kabbah

(2nd Accused)

3. Major Foday Sumana Kamara (3rd Accused)
4. Major Ibrahim Abu Bakarr Bangura (4th Accused)
5. Lieutenant Zainab Amara Suwu (5th Accused)
6. Corporal Mohamed Koroma (6th Accused)

The above-mentioned accused persons were members of the group of military personnel and civilians, who were arrested or declared “WANTED” in connection with the July 29 Subversion last year.

During an investigation into the said Subversion, the 3rd, 4th and 6th accused persons escaped from being arrested. However, the 1st, 2nd and 5th accused persons were arrested and detained at the country’s custodial facilities.

In the wake of the November 26 Coup last year, the 1st, 2nd and 5th accused persons escaped from the said custodial facilities and joined the assailants.

However, in May this year the 6th Accused was captured in his hometown near Mile 91 in Tonkolili district. A month later, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th accused persons were re-arrested in Guinea and extradited to Sierra Leone.

With regards their offences, all the six (6) military personnel have been charged with eight (8) counts of Mutiny, Failure to Suppress Mutiny and Desertion .

The SECOND SET of military personnel to be also tried by the new Board consists of seven (7) accused persons. The title of this trial is “The State versus Major Bai Sesay and 6 Others”.

The accused persons for the second trial are as follows:

1. Major Bai Sesay

(1st Accused)

2. Staff Sergeant Joseph Conteh alias Boy Pikin

(2nd Accused)

3. Sergeant Alimamy Conteh alias Next Man (3rd Accused)
4. Corporal Alpha Wurie Conteh (4th Accused)
5. Lance Corporal Ibrahim Kuyateh (5th Accused)
6. Lance Corporal Lahai Kemoh (6th Accused).
7. Sergeant Baimba Bangura alias Maggie (7th Accused)

The accused persons in the second trial are some of the fugitive military personnel, who were involved in the November 26 Coup in which 18 security personnel and two (2) civilians were BRUTALLY KILLED.

However, the involvements, in the Coup, of the said military personnel went unnoticed for a period after the Coup failed. Subsequently, they were later arrested after the just concluded trial of the 27 military personnel had begun.

In respect of their offences, all the seven (7) military personnel have been also charged with eight (8) counts of Mutiny, Conspiracy to Commit Mutiny, Failure to Suppress Mutiny, Communicating with the Enemy and Conduct to the Prejudice of Military Discipline.

According to the Administrative Head of the Military Tribunal, Major Sesay, a total of 13 military personnel will be arraigned before the Court for pre-trial at 9am on Thursday, 17th October, 2024.

“During the pre-trial, the charges against all the accused persons will be read out to them and they will be asked to make a plea of GUILTY or NOT GUILTY. Thereafter, the Court will address any legal issues in respect of the two sets of trial before an adjournment”, Major Sesay said.

The two Court Martial trials commencing tomorrow will add to the other five (5) trials conducted so far with regards the VARIOUS ENDEAVORS undertaken to overthrow President Bio following his re-election in June, last year.

The details of the other five (5) trials are as follows:

1. “The State versus Amadu Koita Makalo and 11 Others” – This trial is almost concluded. There were 12 accused persons charged with 20 Counts of Treason, Misprison of Treason, Murder, Shooting with Intent to Murder, Harbouring and Unauthorized Wearing of Military Uniform. Eleven accused persons including the 1st Accused (Amadu Koita Makalo) were convicted and jailed. However, the 8th Accused, Bai Mahmoud Bangura was severed from the trial because of his medical condition. His trial is still ongoing at the High Court presided over by Justice Komba Kamanda.
2. “The State versus Staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma and 26 Others” – This trial has been concluded. Twenty-seven (27) accused persons were charged with 88 Counts of Mutiny, Conspiracy to Commit Mutiny, Failure to Suppress Mutiny, Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Communicating with the Enemy, Stealing of Public or Service Property, Receiving of Public or Service Property, Retaining of Public or Service Property, Fraudulent Misapplication of Public or Service Property, Wilful Damage of Public or Service Property and Conduct to the Prejudice of Military Discipline. Twenty-five accused persons including the 1st Accused, Staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma (who had pleaded “GUILTY”) were convicted and jailed. The 19th Accused, Warrant Officer Class 1 Sitta Dumbuya was found “NOT GUILTY” and was subsequently acquitted and discharged. The 18th Accused, Lance Corporal Abu Bakarr Koroma alias Opanday was set free due to his medical condition (Disease of the Mind or Epilepsy).
3. “The State versus George Adams” – This trial is ongoing at the High Court presided over by Acting Chief Browne-Marke. The accused person is charged with three (3) Counts of Treason, Misprison of Treason and Murder.
4. “The State versus Alie Badara Kanu and Thaimu Bangura” – This trial is also ongoing. The two accused persons are charged with two Counts of Treason and Misprison of Treason.
5. “The State versus Ernest Bai Koroma” – This trial is ongoing at the Magistrate Court for Preliminary Investigation (PI). It is presided over by Magistrate Santigie Bangura. The accused person, former President Ernest Bai Koroma is charged with six (6) Counts of Treason, Misprison of Treason and Harbouring. He was granted bail on application tendered to the High Court presided over by Justice Samuel Taylor. He is currently in Nigeria for medical treatment.