Sergeant Rashid Koroma, on Wednesday 24 July 2024, testified in his defence before Judge Advocate, Mark Ngegba and Members of the Board. He stated that, he had no knowledge about the November 26th, 2023, failed coup.

Led in evidence by his Lawyer I. Bangura from the Legal Aid Board, Koroma told the court that the allegation levied against him was not true.

The accused said he is a Sergeant deployed at Benguema Barracks and has served in the military for 19 years.

He said between 24th and 26th November 2023, he was not part of any plan to overthrow the government of Sierra Leone, neither having any knowledge that Freetown would be under attack.

Related News

Koroma in his defence said on Sunday 26th November, he was having fun at Aberdeen beach with his pass that he obtained from their administration after completing his “Platoon Sergeant Battle Course” which lasted for a week.

Koroma furthered that while refreshing himself, a lady came into the bar and informed everyone that there was firing going on in town.

The accused said he removed his phone to make a call to Benguema Barracks to confirm the information, but it was not charged.

Koroma said everyone at the bar left, in search of a vehicle to leave the scene but it was difficult to see any at that time.

But having a pass, he was hoping to find his way to the nearest military establishment in the area.

After waiting for a while, a vehicle finally came and picked him up. On their way they were stopped at Murray Town and where they were informed about the heavy firing going on ahead.

Koroma continued that the driver decided to return, and he came down the vehicle and decided to go to Ordinance at Murray Town Barrack and explain himself.

On his way, he met convict Mohamed Woodie, who was standing trial at the just concluded treason court.

He furthered that he stopped and both were talking when he saw a civilian and three soldiers walking towards them.

When they got closer to where they were talking one of the soldiers greeted him and informed him that a civilian had made a complainant to them at Ordinance that they were not satisfied with him since he is a stranger in the area.

He also informed the court that he then explained to the officers his situation saying he was on his way to Ordinance to explain himself and he showed them his pass.

Arriving at Ordinance, he met lots of soldiers and the Warrant Officers (WO2), one of them Gbla, told the officers that he is not a civilian but a soldier and he also explained himself to them about his situation and he showed them his pass.

The soldiers at Ordinance asked him to return to his friend and he went to the house of Woodie again at Cane Stick.

Koroma further explained that while at Convict Woodie’s house, he handed over his bag to the girlfriend of Woodie, who prepared food for them.

After eating the food, he decided to relax a bit at the veranda of the house, and he felt sleepy but was disturbed by sounds of gun shots.

While he was sleeping, he was woken up by the noise of one of the soldiers, who went to arrest convict Woodie and he also decided to go with them to Ordinance after his friend Woodie was arrested.

At Ordinance, the officers started beating convict Woodie and they also attempted to approach him, but they were stopped by their Boss.

He said they handcuffed him and Woodie and placed them inside a vehicle and drove them to Cockeril Headquarters.

While at Cockeril, he underscored that Lieutenant Colonel Sandi made a call and instructed Major Conteh to lead the team and they took them to Bengazi, the OSD Headquarters.

The following day, he said they were taken to the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters, where he made statement to the Joint Investigation Team at CID, and not the military police.

He later identified the statement he made to them in Court, noting that lots of the things, he said to the investigation team, were never recorded down.