Harold Tucker
The Mayor of Sierra Leone's second capital of Bo, Harold Tucker was arrested late yesterday but was released at night after police had obtained statement from him.
He told Politico immediately after his release that the police told him that he held a meeting on 15 August at a hotel in Bo with “some military officers in connection with a coup to overthrown President Ernest Bai Koroma”.
Sounding exhausted and distraught, Tucker said he would be "escorted to Freetown" today, Tuesday, for further questioning. He denied any wrongdoing.
The head of the police criminal investigations department confirmed to Politico that the mayor was arrested in connection with an “illegal gathering that is possibly linkead to” the allegedly botched mutiny by soldiers in Makeni on Saturday.
In Makeni on Saturday 17 August about a dozen soldiers were arrested over an “illegal gathering” said to be in relation to a mutiny which was allegedly botched.
Chief Superintendent Ibrahim Koroma said Mayor Tucker and popular businessman Pius George could prove to only be witnesses or suspects in the matter.
The arrests and the eventual premise search were led by Deputy Director of CID, Superintendent Gabriel Tommy.
Speaking to Politico before the mayor’s release, Tommy said the men were taken in to “clarify certain information relating to a wide range of issues”. Asked what those issues were, he said they were related to an “illegal gathering in Bo sometime this year” without the knowledge of the police. He would not specify the time of the said meeting or its nature.
Politico confirmed that George Pious, who owns Country Side guest house in Bo was taken to hospital. The deputy head of CID confirmed that he was unwell and had been taken to hospital but would not say what the cause for his condition was nor was it clear whether it was due to the manner in which he was handled by the police. Sources say he had collapsed but it was unclear whether it was related to the way he was being handled by the police.
George is alleged to have hosted a group of persons at his guest house and at his private residence along the Bo-Kenema highway, sometime this month during which time the unknown persons allegedly held meetings that have attracted the interest of the state security apparatus.
According to family sources, George was arrested and detained on Sunday 25th August 2013 and his residence searched yesterday.
This is not the first time the police are questioning a member of the Pius George family. A few months ago his youthful son, Vernon George who is often seen in the company of soldiers, was questioned by the Bo police in connection with a small fire-arm allegedly found in his possession.
Ironically it was at the same Country Side where Tom Nyuma was arrested in the lead up to the 2007 presidential election alleged to have attempted to attack the then opposition leader, Ernest Bai Koroma.
Members of the opposition SLPP, the party of the mayor, told Politico that they were denied access by police when they went to see him at the Bo Police East Division. The police have denied this. The party has not yet reacted officially.
© Politico 27/08/13
