The court martial of Major Bai Sesay and six other military personnel took a significant turn as the 19th prosecution witness, Detective Inspector Mohamed Jusu, presented evidence of WhatsApp communications allegedly linked to the accused and others involved in the failed coup attempt of November 26, 2023.

Testifying on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, Detective Jusu, a system and data analyst attached to the Criminal Investigation Department in Freetown, revealed that he extracted a screenshot from the phone of Amadu Koita Makalo, a now-convicted individual.

The screenshot contained details of communications between Major Sesay and Makalo between November 22 and 25, 2023.

According to Jusu, the screenshot showed that on November 22, 2023, at 20:18 GMT, Makalo initiated a WhatsApp audio call to Major Sesay, which was followed by a return call from Sesay at 20:19 GMT.

Further analysis revealed that on November 25, 2023, at 10:04 GMT, a WhatsApp video conference was initiated by another convicted individual, Abu Dauda, involving Sesay, Makalo, and others.

This call reportedly lasted 12 minutes and 24 seconds. Later that evening, at 20:12 GMT, Makalo placed another audio call to Sesay, which was reciprocated at 20:18 GMT.

The evidence also showed that Makalo had saved Sesay’s contact as “Maj. Bai Sesay.” The witness stated that this information was verified through military police, confirming that the phone number belonged to Major Sesay.

In addition to the WhatsApp evidence, CCTV footage was displayed in court showing two of the accused, Corporal Alpha Wurie Conteh and Corporal Ibrahim Kuyateh, armed with AK-47 rifles and Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) outside the Pademba Road Prison on the morning of the failed coup attempt.

This case follows the earlier conviction of Makalo, who was sentenced to 182 years in prison for treason, alongside 10 others who received maximum sentences for related offenses.

Major Bai Sesay and his co-accused face 10 counts, including mutiny, failure to suppress mutiny, and desertion.

The court martial proceedings continue, with the prosecution relying heavily on digital and surveillance evidence to substantiate the charges.