Court Martial for alleged Sierra Leonean mutineers

Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Frank Kargbo has told Politico that the suspected mutineers arrested in Makeni on 17 August this year will face a Court Martial whose panel is being constituted. Since their arrest not much has been heard of them. The military who were detaining them told Politico that they had been handed over to the civilian police. The head of the police criminal investigations department, Chief Superintendent Ibrahim Koroma said that they had handed over the files to the Law Officers’ Department. Well Politico caught up with the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Frank Kargbo for an exclusive interview. Politico: Mr Minister what is happening to those soldiers arrested [some seven] weeks ago on allegations of plotting a mutiny said to bear the hallmarks of a military coup – What is happening to them? Frank Kargbo: I can confirm that we received the file from the investigators towards the end of last week and we are reviewing it and at the same time based on the extracts of evidence that we have viewed so far we are in the process of making preparations to set up a court martial. Politico: So they will face the court martial? Frank Kargbo: Yes on account of the fact that the military is a specialized institution that has its own unique rules if you like. Politico: Do we know how many people are being held? Frank Kargbo: Upwards of seven people Politico: Those are the ones that you will charge and those are the ones that are being held Frank Kargbo: Yes Politico: When you say upwards of seven people are we talking about a dozen, two dozen… Frank Kargbo: We are talking about between 10 to 14 people. Politico: According to your findings so far what is it that they are alleged to have wanted to do? Frank Kargbo: Let me not pre-empt the prosecutors at this stage. But certainly, I mean, there is sufficient evidence based on extracts, as I say, to bring them for several offences under military law. Politico: Does that include the allegation that they wanted to kidnap the President in Makeni and kill his defence minister or someone? Frank Kargbo: Let’s not pre-empt the prosecutors. I am one person that is not in favour of trial by the press or media. Politico: As Attorney General are you not concerned that they have been held for quite a long time now…upwards of a month or six weeks. Frank Kargbo: These are very serious offences that they will be facing. And in any event I’m not too sure that the question of constitutional rights applies in military matters. They have their own rules, as I say, and the 72 hours or 10 days are applicable to ordinary citizens. It may well not apply to military personnel. Politico: Was it also normal that while they were being held by the soldiers or the army on allegations of planning a mutiny and a possible coup the military handed them over to the civilian police. Is that a normal thing? Frank Kargbo: I’m not aware that they were handed over to the civilian police. I know for a fact that it was a joint investigation of a multiple of security service personnel. So they may have been in the custody of the police but the investigations were conducted by a multiservice team. Politico: And don’t soldiers have their own guardroom to keep such suspects and why did they have to hand them over to the police? Frank Kargbo: For lack of space. One. That could be a reason. I’m not too sure about that but certainly I’m sure those guardrooms were not meant for such a large group of detainees. Politico: But we are talking about just a dozen or so. That’s not a large group. Is it? Frank Kargbo: I do not know what amount of space the military has in terms of guardroom space so I cannot comment on that. Politico: You say that they will face a court martial…why won’t you allow them to face a normal civil court? Frank Kargbo: Because they are serving personnel and they have their rules and they are subject to those rules and they have to stand or fall by them. Politico: And how about those civilians who are alleged to work in cahoots with them? Frank Kargbo: I’m not aware of any civilians at this stage. I know that civilian witnesses were interviewed but that’s the extent of their involvement. Politico: And have any suspicions now been dropped against the Mayor of the country’s second city who was picked up by the police on these allegations Frank Kargbo: [Laughs] That’s a very interesting question. The Mayor doesn’t feature in the file, as far as I know. But as I say let’s wait and see. We will do a more detailed review of the file and then pick our fight, if you like. © Politico 08/10/13