By Janet A. Sesay
Detective Sergeant, Solomon Amadu has on Wednesday, 28th August 2024 tendered the caution and charge statements of the Second Accused, Thaimu Bangura whom police alleged was involved in the November 26, 2023 failed coup.
Both accused persons Alie Badara Kanu and Thaimu Bangura are arraigned in court on two count charges of treason and misprison of treason both contrary to law.
The indictment states that the accused on diverse dates between 24 June, 2023 and 29 June 2024 in Sierra Leone prepared to overthrow the Government of Sierra Leone by unlawful means.
The indictment in further of the over act stated that the accused between June 2023 and March 2024 in furtherance of the preparation to overthrow the Government of Sierra Leone by unlawful means, Captain Alie Badara operated a Whatsapp communication group between him and unknown members of the said Whatsapp group to overthrow the Government of Sierra Leone.
The charge sheet furthered that Thaimu Bangura and other persons unknown in preparation to overthrow the government of Sierra Leone by unlawful means created a Whatsapp group called “Movement to the Restoration of Democracy” joined by Alie Badara and other members.
It also stated that the accused also on diverse dates on the 31 March 2024 and the 19 April 2024 conspired with other persons unknown to overthrow the Government of Sierra Leone being that they agreed to recruit individual members of the Armed Forces of Sierra Leone, the Police Force and ex-military officers across the country.
Also, the accused are alleged to have purchased arms in furtherance of their plot to overthrow the Government of Sierra Leone by unlawful means, to overthrow and take over the Government of Sierra Leone by unlawful means.
The over act furthered that the accused between the 29 July, 2023 and 31 March 2024 held meetings at Camp Junction in Waterloo and Four Mile in furtherance to prepare to overthrow the Government of Sierra Leone; that the accused, Thaimu Bangura on 1st March, 2024 in furtherance to plot to overthrow the Government by unlawful means formatted a code for weapons and also on the 15 April, 2024 in preparedness to overthrow the Government of Sierra Leone circulated military deployments across the country. The charge also states that both accused with other persons unknown in preparation to overthrow the Government of Sierra Leone planned to hold a violent protest which they will use as cover to carry out their unlawful plot; and that the accused knowing well that Caesar, Captain Senessie and Captain John Conteh and others had prepared to overthrow the Government of Sierra Leone by unlawfully concealing the said information.
The Prosecution Witness, Detective Sergeant 8904 Solomon Amadu in his examination in chief led by State Counsel Yusuf Isaac Sesay said he is attached to the Operations Department at the CID headquarters and hee recognized the Second Accused and recalled Sunday 21st April 2024. He said he was on duty when he and Detective Inspector Abu Bakarr Kargbo obtained contemporaneous interview statements from the accused.
His statement he said was obtained in Krio and recorded in English but was suspended and recommenced on the 24th April 2024.The statement he said was again suspended and recommenced on 26th June 2024.
The said statement was produced and tendered in court and was marked as Exhibit C1- 20 respectively to form part of the Prosecution’s case.
The witness in continuation of his evidence said on 29th July 2024, he and Detective Inspector Abu Bakarr Kargbo obtained further interview statements from accused, Bangura, which he made in Krio and was recorded in English. The statement was produced and tendered as Exhibit B1 to 6.
On the same date, the witness proceeded, he said they obtained charged statements from the accused which indicated that he has been charged with treason and misprison of treason contrary to law. The charges statement was tendered as Exhibit E 1- 2.
The witness said before they obtained the statement from the accused, they retrieved a Techno Spark android phone from the accused, Bangura and was tendered to the Cyber Unit for forensic examination.
Lawyer M.Y. Kanu during cross examination of the witness puts it to the witness that he did not receive any other information based on what he was told and that he charged the matter to court based on evidence. The accused in response said he did so after he had obtained statements from independent witnesses.
When asked as to whether he visited the residents of the second accused, he said he did not, but that a team of investigators visited the residence.
Lawyer Kanu also put it to the witness that all what he has said in court was based on what he was told, the witness in reply said, they are based on the evidence received. He revealed that the accused was arrested on 17th July 2024.
Magistrate Bangura refused bail and remanded the accused in prison whiles the matter was adjourned to 4th September, 2024.