By; Sulaiman Jalloh
William Fayia Sellu, Inspector General of Sierra Leone Police has disclosed that Dr. Earnest Bai Koroma, erstwhile president of Sierra Leone is a suspect in the ongoing investigation into November 26 incident which government has described as a failed coup to unseat the democratically elected government of President Julius Maada Bio. The police chief was speaking during the government’s weekly press briefing on Tuesday, December 12th, 2023, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation conference hall.
According to the police boos, anyone under investigation is a suspect, nothing the former president has been very cooperative and he cannot be put under police custody because of his status in society, but the Inspector General however noted that the former head of state cannot leave his house without the permission of the police.
He emphasized that they are doing all they can to conclude the ongoing investigations. He added that, despite the former president undergoing investigation, he has been granted permission to health care with the knowledge of the Inspector General of Police.
IG Fayia Sellu disclosed that eighty suspects, including the former head of state, are in custody undergoing investigation. Detailing the suspects, he said fifty are members of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), five dismissed/retired RSLAF personnel, seven from the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), one retired SLP personnel, fifteen civilians and one correctional officer.
He noted that sixty-eight of the coup suspects have been questioned and that all their statements have been forwarded to the Attorney General’s office for further action, adding that twelve of them are still under interrogation.
He added that the security status of the country is now calm and people should go about their normal business without being scared of anything.
“Citizens should continue to report anything relating to the security status of the State,” the IG pointed encouraged, while emphasizing the money reward of fifty thousand new Leones [fifty million old Leones] for anyone who provides information relating to the apprehension of any of the persons mentioned in the published list of wanted suspects.
The police chief said the arrest of serving security officers sends a clear message to other officers to be mindful in discharging their duties, adding those arrested officers have been immediately dismissed from service while their interrogation continues.
Copy right – Expo Times News on Wednesday, December 13th, 2023 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
