By Alusine Fullah
Ernest Bai Koroma, former President of Sierra Leone was recently charged to court on four-count treason charges relating to the November 26th 2023 coup attempt. There are mixed reactions from the public. Some say it is a good precedent while others say it is a bad precedent, a witch-hunt and a political vendetta.
In a BBC interview, the country’s Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah refuted the claims of political witch-hunt or vendetta.
He stated: “Before those charges by the court on Wednesday [3rd January 2024], President Julius Maada Bio had said, in one of his speeches, that, ‘let us rest assured that we will follow the evidence wherever it takes us, and all those found culpable, no matter their status, shall be held fully to account for their actions within the confines of the law…’ it is very clear that the charges against the former president are not a political witch-hunt or political vendetta as many people have claimed…as a government, we are following all measures for us to have fair trial…,” the Information Minister explained.
Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, lawyer for former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma, has refuted the charges against his client.
Kamara revealed that, despite 40 hours of interrogation, no concrete evidence was presented to Koroma linking him to the alleged offenses. He emphasized the lack of specific accusations beyond basic inquiries about individuals and objects, calling the entire process “ridiculous”.
Kamara said it is a bad precedent and that they [he and other lawyers] will prove Koroma’s innocence.
According to Sierra Leone’s penal code, a person found guilty of treason could face imprisonment for life.
Last Wednesday, the government said 12 persons, including a member of Koroma’s security detail, were charged with treason in connection with the failed coup. The accused were arraigned before a magistrate in Freetown last Tuesday, the Ministry of Information and Communication said in a statement, adding that they included ex-police and correctional officers.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Sunday, January 7th, 2023 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
