By Emma Black

Former military officer Sallieu Jalloh, 52, made his second appearance on Monday, 2nd June 2025, before Principal Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah at the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1 in Freetown. He is accused of playing a key role in an alleged conspiracy to unlawfully overthrow the Government of Sierra Leone.

Jalloh is standing trial on two serious charges, treason, contrary to Section 3(1)(a) of the Treason and State Offences Act No.10 of 1963, and Misprision of treason, which involves knowingly concealing treasonous activities without reporting them to the authorities.

According to the charge sheet, between 1st January 2024 and 13th March 2025, Jalloh allegedly conspired with others including captain Aiah Aba Senessie, Sergeant Bangura of Waterloo, Retired Sergeant Kamara, and other unidentified individuals to acquire AK-47 rifles and ammunition to facilitate a violent overthrow of the state.

The prosecution further alleged that Jalloh, facilitated contacts between Senessie and a retired sergeant by forwarding contact details for the purpose of purchasing weapons, actively sought to recruit police officers and military personnel to support the plan., instructed an individual named Sandy Sesay and his group to be on standby on 8th March 2024, signaling that an attempted power grab was imminent, failed to report the treasonous activities between 26th November 2023 and 26th November 2024, despite being aware of the alleged plot involving Captain Senessie and others.

No plea was taken from the accused during his first court appearance, in court, state prosecutor Yusif Isaac Sesay led the testimony of prosecution witness No. 1, detective police constable Hassan Sillas Combay (Badge No. 1818), of the criminal investigation department (CID).

Detective Combay recounted that on 12th May 2025, he and Sergeant Solomon Amadu (Badge No. 8904) interviewed the accused in Krio, the statement, recorded in English by Sgt. Amadu, was read back and explained to Jalloh, who confirmed its accuracy with a right-hand thumbprint. The charge statement was admitted as exhibit A1–2.

During cross-examination, Jalloh questioned the witness himself, Magistrate Jah denied bail, ordering that Jalloh be remanded at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to Wednesday, 5th June 2025, for continuation of the preliminary hearing.

Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Wednesday, June 4TH, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)