By Janet A. Sesay
Lieutenant Jewel Augustine Koroma and Major John Kainessie have testified on behalf of the prosecution team in the ongoing treason trial of 27 military officers taking place at Cockerill Defence Headquaters in Freetown.
The trial is presided over by Judge Advocate, Mark Ngegba.
The first witness, Lieutnant Jewel Augustine Koroma, Commanding Officer, Quick Reaction Force, recognised the accused and recalled 25th and 26th November, 2023 when he was instructed to assemble officers under his command.
On 25th November, 2023, he received instruction from his superior, Lieutnant Tommy to conduct night patrol with other personnel who were randomly selected.
He said they stopped at Mile 13 checkpoint, headed to Lumley and later proceeded to a route leading to Aberdeen.
Not too far, witness said, the patrol commander informed him that 5th Battalion at Wilberforce was under attack and they should go there immediately.
Witness said it was on 26th November 2023 in the morning hours.
The witness identified the eighth accused, Corporal Eustace Neka who, he said, was part of the patrol team.
Witness further testified that Lieutenant Tommy led a patrol team from Lumley to the Vice President Lodge where they disembarked from the vehicle and took a walk while Major Gassama took over the patrol and moved from Vice President Lodge to 5th Battalion gate with 16 personnel including the eight accused.
He said they were deployed at the gate and later saw a black Jeep heading towards the ammunition dump and some soldiers shut the gate.
Lieutenant Jewel said he later heard an RPG (Rocket-Propelled Grenade) explosion with Major Samba sustaining injuries and drove back to the Vice President Lodge.
The second witness, Major John Kainessie also testified that from 1st to 26th November, 2023, the Commanding Officer at 5th Battalion was Lieutenant Colonel Charles Yamba who is before the Court Martial as the 17th accused.
The witness confirmed that there was arms and ammunition at the 5th Battalion at that time.
He said on 25th November 2023, at about 23:00 hours, he received a phone call from Major Gassama at the Joint Force Command that all staff should report.
He said On arrival, Colonel Samai said they should go on patrol and Major-General Alpha instructed him to pick up police officers at the Police Headquarters in Freetown and to assist them on the patrol.
Lieutenant Colonel Samai who is now late divided the patrol team into two, one for East- end part of the capital city, Freetown and the other for West-end and ordered him to stay at the Police Headquarters with other officers.
He said at 3:35 hours of 26th November 2023, he received another phone call from Lieutenant Colonel Sandy who informed him that he had been told by the military police that unknown gun men had broken into the arms store.
Upon receipt of the information, witness said, he crossed over to State House and informed the guards on duty to remain alert and return to Police Headquarters.
He said the patrol team from East-end Freetown later arrived at Police Headquarters calling the late Colonel Samai but his phone was off, but Mr. Alpha later instructed them to return to Cockerill barracks and they complied.
By the time they reached Youyi Building, witness further testified, they heard a gunshot from Wilberforce direction, and later gunshots intensified with RPG explosions.
He said he went to the Quick Reaction Force in search of raffle where he saw the fourth accused, Abu Dauda demanding an RPG.
“I cautioned the officer at the store not to issue support weapon to Dauda knowing fully that he was not deployed at the Quick Reaction Force at Cockril,” witness told the court, but Major John Kainessie issued him the said weapon.
The witness also identified Sitta Dumbuya, the 19th accused saying that he entered Cockerill but he was challenged by another soldier known as Marah who ordered him (Sitta) to be searched but nothing of security interest was found on him.
The witness confirmed that several arms and ammunition were looted based on the returns document from various battalions.
The matter continues today 19th January.