By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah
Giving updates about the ongoing treason trial following last November’s failed coup, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohamed Tarawalley has said the process is not a ‘witch hunt.’
Tarawalley was speaking at a press conference by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education on 19th January this year at the Ministry of Justice, Freetown.
He said the accused were not arraigned based on a personal vendetta, but on the evidence that they have against them.
He said the police obtained and analysed the evidence that brought about charges such as treason, misprision, harbouring, and mutiny among others.
To fast-track proceedings for the accused civilians, the Attorney General said the matter started at the Magistrate court and then to the High court. He informed the media that the treason trial against the accused civilians is to begin on the 1st of February this year.
He said twenty-seven personnel of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces are facing Court Martial, while those serving currently in the Sierra Leone Police are in the civil court.
“Thirty civilian suspects, seven police suspects, five military officers and four correctional service officers have been released,” the Attorney General said, adding that twenty-seven military offers and thirteen civilians are currently standing trial.
Speaking about the offences of the accused military officers, Tarawalley said they are charged with thirty-nine counts of various civil offences, as well as seven counts of mutiny, two counts of failure to suppress mutiny, seven counts of aiding the enemy, twenty-four counts of communicating with the enemy, two counts of stealing public property, and two counts of fraudulent misapplication of public service property.
For the civilians, he said they are charged with treason, murder, misprison of treason and harbouring.
On the 26th of November last year, the Wilberforce Military Barracks’ Amoury was breached together with other key installations including Police Stations. The correctional centres for male and female inmates were forced open and the inmates were freed. Eighteen loyal government security personnel mostly soldiers were killed.
Copyright © 2024 (Politico (22/01/24)
