ufofana's picture
Sierra Leone treason trial nears its end

By Francis H. Murray

The ongoing trial of former defense minister Alfred Paolo Conteh and two others for treason and other offences could end today at the High Court in Freetown with both the prosecution and defense due to address the jury this morning.

During the course of the trial Justice Momoh Jah Stevens dismissed a ‘‘no case’’ submission on behalf of the first accused on the grounds that treason was a serious offence hence prudent to hear both sides of the case.

The persecution team which comprised the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dr. Priscilla Schwartz, Director of Public Prosecution Easmon Ngakui, Adrian J. Fisher and others, presented sixteen witnesses but only thirteen actually testified.

All three accused persons: Rtd Major Alfred Paolo Conteh, the Deputy Head of the Small Arms Commission Saa Antony Sinnah and Prince George Hughes face sixteen counts including treason, possession of a small arm without a valid license, having a loaded arm in a public place and concealing arms unlawfully. All charges they deny.

Prosecutors alleged that the former defence minister prepared to carry out by force an assassination of President Julius Maada Bio during a visit to State House in March at the invitation of the president.

Last Friday the court moved to State House, scene of the alleged crime, following an application by lawyers defending the former minister. The lawyers had argued before Justice Momoh Jah Stevens that the visit would give the jury and the bench a better understanding of what transpired between their client and the security personnel at the reception area of State House.  

In his report read out in court, the clerk Patrick Sannah said that upon their arrival the second prosecution witness 14814 Kemoh Vackie was seated behind the scanning monitor next to another prosecution witness Staff Sergeant Dauda Yeamie who was seated at the reception desk on the first floor of State House.

Justice Momoh Jah Stevens asked the first accused to explain what occurred on the 19 in that reception area.

In his response, the first accused said: ‘’when I got here on the 19th, I had my brown leather bag.  I did not put my bag here (pointing to the conveyor belt) to be scanned. I walked by the side of the metal detector on the left hand and then walked directly to the reception desk. I met two people, one a female police officer in uniform and the other in plain clothes.’’

When asked by prosecutor Adrian J. Fisher why he didn’t take his bag upstairs even when one of the personnel had suggested as he had alleged, the accused said ‘‘because I was heading up to the President’s office and couldn’t take my weapon there.’’

Lawyer Joseph Kamara asked his client whether it was in his evidence that he didn’t put his bag on the scanner, the accused replied saying that if he had put his bag there, it would have triggered an alarm which he wanted to avoid.

Pointed to an object on top of the wooden door, Kamara also asked Lt. Col. Kposowa – the head of State House security – about the CCTV camera he had spoken about being at the reception area in his testimony and the witness replied that he couldn’t comment on same for security reasons. 

The visit was conducted in camera with the judge Momoh Jah Stevens and his clerk, with all members of the jury, and three members each from both the defense and the prosecution in attendance.

Copyright © 2020 Politico Online

Category: 
Top