A recent court martial trial has shed light on the involvement of the late Idrissa Ahmid Kamara, alias Leather Boot, in the failed coup attempt on November 26, 2023.

Contrary to previous reports, evidence presented during the trial revealed that Leather Boot was not arrested from his home but was actively involved in the planning and execution of the coup.

According to the prosecution, Leather Boot participated in a juju ceremony with other coup plotters at Mapaki Village to fortify themselves against gunshots. He was also present at the Joint Logistics Unit headquarters on the day of the coup, where he was involved in a shootout that led to the death of two soldiers.

The trial, which involved Staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma and 26 others, concluded with Koroma being sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the coup.

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COURT MARTIAL TRIAL
(EPISODE 5)
26th August, 2024

WAS “LEATHER BOOT” PART OF THE NOVEMBER 26 COUP?

I. In EPISODE 4, we promised to publish what each and every accused, who had visited the Mapaki Village herbalist, said during the trial, with regards the JUJU CEREMONY. We also promised to publish several photos of the various scenes of the said ceremony. But we will withhold those details for the next EPISODE.

II. In this EPISODE, the question is “Was Leather Boot part of the November 26 Coup?”

III. Following the death of Idrissa Ahmid Kamara alias Leather Boot on day of the bloody Coup, there were DELIBERATE LIES that went viral about how Leather Boot was arrested from home and whisked to Murray Town Barracks, where he was then shot and killed.

IV. On the contrary, in the just concluded Court Martial trial involving the State versus Staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma and 26 Others, the EVIDENCE about the INVOLVEMENT of Leather Boot in the Coup and the CIRCUMSTANCE leading to his death were heard and tendered.

V. Among the 188 EXHIBITS tendered by the Prosecution, the PHOTO accompanying this EPISODE is one of the pictorial evidence confirming Leather Boot’s involvement in the Coup. The Photo clearly identifies Leather Boot in a RELAXED AND CONFIDENT MOOD at Mapaki Village in Paki Masabom Chiefdom, Bombali District after they had undergone the Juju Ceremony and FORTIFED their bodies with CHARMS against GUNSHOTS in preparation for the execution of the Coup.

VI. Besides, 1st accused, Staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma, who is also identified in the photo with Leather Boot, Amadu Koita, Captain MA Jalloh and others, said in his Voluntary Cautioned Statement that in the evening hours of Friday, 24 November 2023, they [in the photo] visited the Mapaki Village herbalist, Pa Sesay who gave them some charms and belts to be used for the operation [Coup).

VII. “Between 7:00pm and 8:00pm on Saturday, 25 November 2023, we left for Lungi with the intent to acquire more arms and ammunition. In Lungi we were frustrated by Major MD Gbow, who vigilantly denied us access to the arms and ammunition stores”, 1st Accused revealed.

VIII. The 1st Accused also revealed that as a result of that frustration, they traveled to Freetown by ferry, which tickets were bought by Captain MA Jalloh.

IX. “In Freetown we were received by Sergeant Janneh, who escorted us inside Headquarters, Joint Logistics Unit (HQ JLU). I was locked in a small building together with Leather Boot and 12th Accused, Corporal Alie Kamara alias Charma Raw while the others left for Wilberforce Barracks”, 1st Accused further revealed.

X. The 1st Accused added that on the day of the execution of the Coup, a certain soldier came and opened the window of the building, where they were hiding and raised ALARM about their presence in the room.

XI. “It was immediately at this point that Leather Boot hastily took a rifle and started sporadic shooting with the intent to escape. Amidst the shooting, I came out to also escape but I met Leather Boot lying on the ground with blood oozing from his leg. I took his rifle, jumped over the fence and hid in the neighborhood in Murray Town”, 1st Accused confessed.

XII. During the trial, the Prosecution led 37 withesses in evidence. One of the witnesses is the 22nd Prosecution Witness or PW 22. According to this witness, in the afternoon of the day of the Coup, a group of military personnel came to HQ JLU and arrested 6th Accused, Corporal Edward Koroma alias Smallie and when he [Smallie] was interrogated, he confessed that he was invited from Lungi by Sergeant Janned to join the Coup.

XIII. PW 22 told the Court that acting on a tip-off about suspicious activity in the building occupied by Sergeant Janneh, they then moved to search the place.

XIV. “As we got close to the building, Leather Boot came out, SHOT and KILLED Corporal Sam Kabba and Sergeant Thomas Rogers” PW 22 testified.

XV. PW 22 also testified that amidst the sporadic shooting, 1st Accused, Staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma and 12th Accused, Corporal Alie Kamara alias Charma Raw came out and ran away.

XVI. PW 22 added that 12th Accused, in an attempt to escape, jumped into a hole from where he was arrested while 1st Accused escaped but was arrested two days later in a neighborhood in Murray Town.

NOTE:

Ist Accused, Staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma was charged with 20 Counts of Mutiny, Conspiracy to Commit Mutiny, Failure to Suppress Mutiny, Communicating with the Enemy, Aiding the Enemy, Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Stealing of Public or Service Property, Fraudulent Misapplication of Public or Service Property, Conduct to the Prejudice of Military Discipline. He pleaded “GUILTY” to 9 (nine) counts. In the interest of speedy trial, the Prosecution dropped the remaining 11 (eleven) counts. He was given a maximum jail term of 30 (thirty) years.

Major Yayah Brima,
Headquarters, Joint Force Command, Cockerill Barracks
Freetown
Phone/WhatsApp: 078 452 876