By Janet A Sesay
Coporal Abubakar Turay, the 23rd accused in the ongoing court martial hearing before Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba and members of the Board admitted that he took pictures with Koita at Lungi since he knew him as a former military officer.
Led in evidence by his Lawyer I. Kamara, a picture was displayed on the screen showing Koita, Leather boots, the 23rd accused and others. Another picture was also shown to him where he identified himself, Sergeant Janneh and Captain Jalloh of 15th Battalion, adding that they are co-worker of the same unit.
He said he took pictures with the other accused two weeks before he left Lungi on the 22nd November, 2023, adding that upon his return to Lungi on Monday, 27th November, 2023, to regain his normal duty, he was assigned duty from Monday, 27th November, 2023 to Friday, 1st December, 2023.
Defense witness Turay further explained to the court that after prayers on Friday, he returned to his duty post where he was met by Sergeant Amadu who told him that Major Bawoh the Commanding Officer at Forces Recognized Unit wanted to see him, adding that they left and went to the office of Major Bawoh who told him that they were wanted in Freetown.
Coporal Turay further explained that he and three gun men, one military police and other soldiers boarded a police escort vehicle and they went to Ferry Terminal and boarded the ferry cross to Freetown.
He added that he was taken to Wilberforce Barracks at the custodian center and the Military Commander, Major Koroma handed him to the Lockup Officer, Sergeant Tucker who asked Major Koroma as to what offense he has committed. He said the Lockup Officer was told by Major Koroma that he had a call from the Lungi Barracks that he was arrested his involvement in the coup attempt. But he maintained his innocence stating that he is being held for offenses he has no knowledge about.
The defense witness said at that point he felt bad because he did not understand what was happening, adding that at that juncture he knew he was under arrest. He said he was locked up from Friday to Monday without food and water.
The Defense witness furthered that on Monday in the afternoon hours, they brought food for them at the lockup but the Lockup Officers were urging them to eat quickly and so he was unable to eat and they boarded a vehicle and he was taken to the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters at Pademba Road. He said later in the evening he was given dry macaroni to eat.
Explaining further, Coporal Turay said he was not informed by anyone about the allegation but was told he was in custody for the same offense which he knew nothing about.
Furthermore, Defense witness Turay said on 7th January, 2024, statements were obtained from him and that up to the end of his statement, he had no inkling about who the assailants were. He said he was only informed about the allegations just prior to his interview and subsequent statement taking.
Exhibit PP1-6 was shown to him, which he identified as the first statement he made to the police and said he was charged with the offense of mutiny, treason and other related offenses.
Witness Turay further explained that after the allegations were read to him, he denied all the allegations.
He said Sergeant Solomon the interviewer whiles taking statements from him, only read to him that he has right to legal representation whiles taking statement from him but he did not clarify anything to him.
He furthered that if the investigators would have enlightened him on legal representation he would have secured one that moment.
He further told the court that from the 1st to 7th January, he was unable to contact or see his family until when he was taken to the Pademba Road Correctional Centre and on the 8th January, 2024 when they first appeared in court. Corporal Turay submitted to the court that he is a responsible family man with two wives and three children.
At this juncture, Lawyer Kamara said he would have loved to tender call logs to the court from the phone of the accused and they have written a request to Qcell, but they are finding it difficult to get a reply from them.
During cross examination by State Counsel, Joseph Sesay,
Coporal Turay said he was deployed at the 15th Battalion in Lungi.
Answering further to questions put to him by State Counsel Sesay, Corporal Turay said his Commander at Lungi Barracks is Major Bawoh.
He further explained before the court that a welfare pass given by the military should be a standard pass from the RSLAF, adding that the pass should have a starting and an expiry dates including the destination of the holder.
Coporal Turay furthered that at Lungi Barracks, he was the Regimental Medical Officer, adding that when requesting for the pass he made an oral request for the pass but it was given to him in a written form.
He said the writing pass given to him commenced on the 22nd November, 2023 and he was to return on Friday or Saturday for work, adding that he did not wear military attire between those days.
He was asked if he knew one Sergeant Mustapha Turay alias (Animal Murder) in 2009-2010.
A picture containing eight of them including Koita was displayed on the screen were he identified Staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma the convict, and first accused in the matter.
He was shown Leather boots wearing white vest but he denied knowing him.
In the picture he also identified Captain Jalloh, adding that he was the one who took the picture as selfie, and he was deployed at 15th Battalion but could not tell his role at the 15th Battalion since he only came to know him when taking the picture.
He said he knew Sergeant Kemoh the 20th accused in the matter, but when his picture was displayed on the screen he denied knowing him.
He said Koita was in Lungi when they took the photos.
He further identified Sergeant Janneh wearing a white vest and said he was deployed at JLU at Murray Town Barracks as a driver.
He said on the 26 November, 2023, in the morning hours he was woken up by a call from his sister in America.
He said on that same day he told his boss about the situation on ground and said there was no ferry to cross over with him to Lungi and his boss gave him an advice that he should stay calm where he was.
He was shown Exhibit QQ1-6 which he identified as his statement he made to the police and was asked to read it by State Counsel. The statement said he has right to legal representation by the RSLAF.
After the cross examination by State Counsel, lawyer C. I. Williams also cross examined Coporal Turay during which session he admitted knowing the 12th accused in the matter. The matter comes up today for continuation.