A military court has sentenced 24 soldiers to maximum jail terms of 120 years each for their roles in a bloody coup attempt.

The verdict, delivered during the 74th session of the Court Martial on Friday, 9th August 2024, marked the culmination of a high-profile trial that began in January.

The Court Martial, presided over by Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba and a panel of military officers, found the accused guilty of multiple charges, including mutiny, conspiracy to commit mutiny, murder, and aiding the enemy. The charges stemmed from a failed coup that rocked the nation earlier this year.

Among the convicted are Staff Sergeant Albert Bassie Conteh, Corporal Thalie Marah, and Lance Corporal Musa Maligie, each found guilty on multiple counts and sentenced to 120 years in prison. Other soldiers received similarly harsh sentences, with terms ranging from 50 to 120 years. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning each convict will serve the maximum term handed down by the court.

One of the accused, Warrant Officer Class 1 Sitta Dumbuya, was acquitted of all charges and discharged. Another, Lance Corporal Abu Bakarr Koroma, was granted a separate trial after collapsing in court due to a medical condition. His trial will continue at a later date.

The trial, which lasted over seven months, involved extensive legal arguments from both the prosecution and defense. The prosecution, led by YS Koroma and JAK Sesay, presented evidence from 37 witnesses and 188 exhibits. The defense, represented by a team of prominent lawyers, countered with 29 witnesses, including two unsworn testimonies.

The court’s decision brings an end to one of the most significant military trials in recent history, highlighting the severe consequences of attempting to destabilize the nation. The convicted soldiers will now serve their sentences, a stern warning to others who may consider similar actions in the future.

A full statement by the Joint Force Command of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) reads below:

COURT MARTIAL TRIAL
(EPISODE1)
10th August, 2024
24 MILITARY PERSONNEL JAILED FOR INVOLVEMENT IN BLOODY COUP D’ETAT
I. At the 74th sitting of the Court Martial on Friday, 9th August, 2024, the following verdicts and sentences were pronounced on 25 accused persons in the Court Martial involving the State versus Staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma and 26 Others:
1. Sergeant Ibrahim Bundu Kamara alias Amerikin (2nd accused). GUILTY of all the 19 counts.
MAXIMUM jail term is 120 years.
2. Staff Sergeant Albert Bassie Conteh (3rd accused). GUILTY of all the 29 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 120 years.
3. Staff Sergeant Abu Dauda (4th accused). GUILTY of all the 32 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 120 years.
4. Corporal Thalie Marah (5th accused).GUILTY of all the 44 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 120 years.
5. Corporal Edward Koroma alias Smallie (6th accused). GUILTY of all the 14 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 120 years.
6. Sergeant Mohamed Kamara alias Ranger (7th accused). GUILTY of all the 16 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 80 years.
7. Lance Corporal Eustace Neka (8th accused). GUILTY of all the 31 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 120 years.
8. Staff Sergeant Idrissa Kallon (9th accused). GUILTY of all the 39 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 120 years.
9. Corporal John Turay alias Koko (10th accused). GUILTY of all the 16 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 80 years
10. Corporal Aiah Gbenda (11th accused). GUILTY of all the 7 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 70 years.
11. Corporal Alie Kamara alias Charma Raw (12 accused). GUILTY of all 11 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 120 years.
12. Lance Corporal Musa Maligie alias Jambo (13th accused). GUILTY of the 40 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 120 years.
13. Private Abdul Razack Kamara (14th accused). GUILTY of all the 40 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 120 years.
14. Sergeant Momoh Kargbo (15th accused). GUILTY of all the 41 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 100 years.
15. Warrant Officer Class 2 Philip Adikalie Turay alias Yamao Kati (16th accused). GUILTY of all the 9 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 80 years.
16. Lieutenant Colonel Charles James Mishek Yamba (17th accused). GUILTY of all the 6 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 120 years.
17. Warrant Officer Class 1 Sitta Dumbuya (19th accused). NOT GUILTY of all the 4 counts. ACQUITTED and DISCHARGED.
18. Sergeant Kemoh Fofanah (20th accused). GUILTY of all the 18 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 120 years.
19. Staff Sergeant Ibrahim Thorlu Bangura alias Tiger (21st accused). GUILTY of all the 40 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 120 years.
20. Warrant Officer Class 2 Alpah Turay. (22nd accused). GUILTY of all the 7 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 120 years.
21. Corporal Abu Bakarr Turay (23rd accused). GUILTY of all the 5 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 90 years.
22. Sergeant Rashid Koroma (24th accused). GUILTY of all the 5 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 90 years.
23. Sergeant Omar Fayiah Lebbie (25th accused). GUILTY of all the 5 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 50 years.
24. Lance Corporal Hassan Sesay (26th accused). GUILTY of all the 5 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 80 years.
25. Lance Corporal Abu Samuel Kamara alias Agba (27th accused). GUILTY of all the 6 counts. MAXIMUM jail term is 80 years.
II. The each accused person less the 19th accused was slammed with a distinct jail term for each and every count. As pronounced by the Judge Advocate, the various jail terms should run CONCURRENTLY. This presupposes that it is the MAXIMUM jail term that each and every accused person should serve.
III. The Court Martial trial started on 8th January 2024 when a total number of 27 accused persons were arraigned before the Court on 88 count charges. All the accused persons except Staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma (1st accused) pleaded “NOT GUILTY”.
IV. Staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma (1st accused) pleaded “GUILTY” to nine count charges out 20. In the interest of speedy trial, the Prosecution dropped the remaining eleven (11) count charges to which the 1st accused pleaded “NOT GUILTY”. Accordingly, with regards the nine (9) count charges to which he pleaded “GUILTY), the 1st accused was sentenced to 30-year jail term each for six (6) count charges and 1-year jail term each for three (3) count charges. The sentences are to run CONCURRENTLY. This presupposes that he will spend only 30 years in jail.
V. Besides, on Thursday, 8th August, 2024, an application was granted by the Judge Advocate for a separate trial for Lance Corporal Abu Bakarr Koroma alias Opanday (18th accused). who had collapsed in the courtroom due to disease of the mind (Epilepsy), according to medical evidence. His own trial will continue on a date to be communicated.
VI. All the 27 accused persons were charged with a total of 88 counts of these offences:
1. Mutiny
2. Conspiracy to Commit Mutiny
3. Failure to Suppress Mutiny
4. Murder
5. Conspiracy to Commit Murder
6. Aiding the Enemy
7. Communicating with the Enemy
8. Stealing of Public or Service Property
9. Receiving of Public or Service Property
10. Retaining of Public or Service Property
11. Wilful Damage of Public or Service Property
12. Fraudulent Misapplication of Public or Service Property
13. Conduct to the Prejudice of Military Discipline
VII. The above-mentioned offences are encapsulated in various provisions of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Sierra Leone Act of 1961 as amended.
VIII. During the trial, the State was represented by 14 Prosecution Lawyers led by YS Koroma and JAK Sesay of the Law Officers’ Department and Colonel MBS Kamara of the Directorate of Defence Legal at Ministry of Defence. Ten (10) of the Prosecution Lawyers are serving military personnel. To prove their case against the accused persons, the Prosecution Lawyers led 37 PROSECUTION WITNESSES in evidence and tendered 188 EXHIBITS.
IX. The accused persons, on the other hand, were represented by the following lead Defence Lawyers: Ady Macauley, Ibrahim Bangura, Julius Kofi, Hassan Kamara, KT Dauda, CI Williams, Julian Cole and AI Kamara. To disprove the Prosecution’ case, the Defence Lawyers led a total of 29 DEFENCE WITNESSES including two unsworn witnesses.
X. The Court Martial was presided over by the following:
1. Lawyer Mark Ngegba Judge Advocate
2. Captain (Navy) Lawrence Jabati Court Martial President
3. Commander Bai Shiaka Deen Sesay Board Member
4. Major Lansana Lukullay Board Member
5. Major Abass Bundu Board Member
6. Major IK Marrah Board Member
7. Major SS Makieu Board Member
8. Major ML Coomber Board Member
XI. In subsequent EPISODES, we will look at the EVIDENCE presented by both Prosecution and Defence Lawyers.
Major Yayah Brima,
Media Operations Officer,
Headquarters,
Joint Force Command,
Cockerill Barracks, Freetown.
Phone/WhatsApp: 078 452 876