By Janet A. Sesay
Photos of some of the accused while in operation during the 26th November, 2023, failed or attempted coup were displayed on a screen in court before Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba and Members of the Board.
The pictures were displayed before the court by Inspector Mohamed Jusu, the Cyber Unit Officer at the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters, based on images lifted from the CCTV footage at Pademba Road Prison and the accused’s phones.
Led in evidence by State Counsel Joseph A. K. Sesay, the witness was about to tender the flash drive where the pictures and videos were kept when Defense Counsel Ady Macauley objected to the tendering on the basis that what the prosecutor was about to tender was different from what was given to the defense team.
He furthered that what the witness wanted to tender were coloured versions of photo printouts, noting that they were served with black and white images.
In response, Prosecutor Sesay said they did serve the defense team, adding that what the witness was seeking to tender was already served to the defense electronically, adding that the witness is competent to tender the evidence and the black and white copies served to the defense was to let them know that they were about to be tendered.
The objection made by Ady Macauley was however overruled by Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba.
The screenshot CCTV footage was however produced and tendered in court and marked as exhibits ABW 1-64 respectively to form part of the evidence.
Witness Jusu furthered that after analysing the CCTV footage, he reduced his observations and conclusion into a report signed and dated by him, which report was tendered as exhibits ABX 1-5.
At this juncture, the CCTV screenshot photos of the failed 26th November, 2023 coup at the main gate of the Pademba Road Prison were displayed on the screen.
Some of the accused persons were projected on the screen and the images of Staff Sergeant Idrissa Kallon, Staff Sergeant Abu Dauda, and Lance Corporal Eustace Neka dressed in military attire carrying RPGs and AK-47s standing in front of the main entrance of the Pademba Road Prison were shown to the court.
The prosecution witness also displayed photos of Staff Sergeant Idrissa Kallon, Lance Corporal Abubakarr Koroma, Staff Sergeant Albert Bassie Conteh and Lance Corporal Malikie Musa dressed only in their boxer shorts (underwear) and engaging in ritual ceremony to fortify themselves against gunshots at the premises of one Pa Sesay.
Witness Jusu said the pictures were extracted from accused Edward Koroma’s phone after Koroma informed the investigation team of their fortification ceremony.
Pictures of accused Corporal Edward Koroma were also displayed in court where he was showing the vehicles and ammunitions that they will be using on the day of the alleged failed coup.
Photos of Amadu Koita Makolo, Leather Boot and Soriba Mansaray holding hands were also displayed in court.
The witness also played an audio message conversation between Sergeant Mansaray and Koita where Sergeant Mansaray told Koita that he was hearing gunshots everywhere and was afraid to move out to avoid being hit by stray bullets.
He was heard calling Koita “Supremo” before the end of the conversation.
At this juncture, Defense Counsel I. A. Kamara informed the court that his client, fifteenth accused Staff Sergeant Marrah, is suffering from severe body pains.
Consequently, the Judge Advocate adjourned the matter to Monday, 25th March, 2024, for continuation.