By Saio Marrah
Morlai Conteh, a Correctional Service officer, has testified at the ongoing treason trial in connection to the November 26, 2023 failed coup, which he was inside the Pademba Road Correctional Centre when unknown persons broke in the prison and freed inmates.
The 22nd prosecution witness, a Chief Officer, who described himself as the technical officer in charge of training inmates in carpentry and providing security service testified before Justice Komba Kamanda on Wednesday 3rd April 2024.
Conteh said he took over duty on the 25th November with 1, 919 inmates at the Pademba road Correctional Centre and that about 1:00 am; a fellow officer came in saying he could hear gunshots in the distance in the presence of other security personnel including military and armed police personnel outside the correctional service facility.
The witness who has served in the Correction Service for 21 years, said at about 04:00 he too heard heavy gunfire from the Wilberforce end and that all the inmates were all in their respective cells at that time. He said his colleagues who were supposed to take up over duty in the morning failed to show up so he remained in the compound until 08:00. He said he could still hear gunshots.
Conteh said the firing died down briefly but he then heard people calling prison officers to open the main gate of the prison but that none of the prison officers moved. According to him, the very people outside threatened to kill any prison officer disobeying their order to open the gate when they eventually gain access.
At this point the witness said he had to hide and that while still in the hiding he learnt that the unknown people had gained access to the prison compound. He said he could hear the sound of padlocks being damaged across all the six blocks at the facility and when he emerged from hiding all the cells were open with many inmates gone except for condemned prisoners. The unknown people were unable to damage the padlocks to the cells.
He said as he left the prison he realized that all the six gates into the correctional facility were open.
Copyright (c) Politico Online (05/04/24)
