By Janet A. Sesay
According to statements made to the police by of one of the accused, Mohamed Jalloh, army Chief, Peter k. Lavahun is planning to hand over President Julius Maada Bio to the ICC (International Criminal Court).
The statement was read by Detective Inspector, Mohamed Kargbo attached Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in his testimony last Monday before Judge Advocate, Mark Ngegba.
Quoting the accused’s statement, the witness also testified that Mr Lavahun was part of the November 26, 2023 coup staged by army renegades against the President.
The revelations came out during cross-examination conducted by defence counsel, Sigismond Conteh on behalf of Amadu Koita Makolo, one of the main accused persons in the treason trial.
He added that if they were successful in overthrowing the government Lavahum would have been the one to hand over president Bio to the ICC for investigation.
Answering further to questions put to him by Defence Counsel Sigismond Conteh witness Kargbo responded that he was the one who conducted an interview of the second accused, Mohamed Jalloh, and during the course of the investigation the investigation team only relied on the accused’s statements.
The witness furthered that during the course of the investigation Mohamed Jalloh mentioned certain names.
The witness was shown Mohamed Jalloh’s statements and on page 7, paragraphs 8 & 9 the witness said Mohamed Jalloh told the investigators that after Koita would have taken over power, he would hand over the mantle of leadership to Lieutenant General Peter K. Lavahum.
The witness answering to more questions said he did not know Peter K. Lavahum and he did not obtain any statements from him, adding that he did not reveal this information about CDS Lavahum to his superiors but believed the information to be true.
Kargbo continued in cross examination that the second accused’s statements formed part of the reason why he was charged to court.
He added that the investigation was a joint one.
Defence Counsel F. Mansaray cross examined the witness on behalf of second accused Mohamed Jalloh, with witness Kargbo saying that he has been an investigator for 5 to 6 years.
He said accused Jalloh in his statement mentioned Lahai Laurence Leema and Lieutenant General Peter K. Lavahum, and that he personally did not investigate that aspect though he was part of the investigation team.
He went on that he could not tell whether those portions of statements made by Jalloh about CDS Peter K. Lavahum were investigated by anyone.
The witness was shown pages 8 & 9 of Jalloh’s statement where he said a bag was given to Staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma of 11th Battalion containing documents and foreign currencies for the operation.
Witness Kargbo said he also did not investigate that aspect disclosing that Staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma was investigated by the military investigators.
The witness was asked if they usually encouraged suspects when investigating matters and he responded that they don’t encourage suspects but they instead convince or talk to them to speak the truth.
On behalf of the sixth accused, Hassan Leigh, Defence Counsel A. Bangura asked the witness if he was the one that finally charged the sixth accused, to which he answered in the affirmative and added that he was part of the investigation team.
Witness Kargbo furthered that he charged the sixth accused based on the pieces of evidence he had gathered.
He also said a team of investigators investigated the sixth accused. The matter comes up today again for further hearing.