By Saio Marrah
State Prosecutor, Oladipo Robin-Mason, has told jurors in the ongoing treason trial that the second accused confessed to police investigators that he was actively involved in the failed coup plot.
In his closing address at the high court in Freetown on Friday 19th July 2024, he reminded the 12 person jury that Mohamed Jalloh admitted in his voluntary caution statement that the plan was due to be executed in March 2023 and that the first accused Koita Makalo persuaded him to “join the mission.”
Lawyer Robin-Mason, while maintaining eye contact with the jurors, said the accused told the police that he was with Koita at 5 battalion, Wilberforce Barracks on the night of the incident.
According to the prosecutor the accused said he was deployed to the main street that night to watch out while the rest of the assailants were busy looting weapons from the armoury.
The prosecutor told the court that the assailants agreed to take control of the 5 Battalion at Wilberforce Barracks, Joint Force Command Force at Cockerill Barracks, Murray Town Barracks and Correctional Centres.
He said for that to happen the assailants killed several military personnel including one Mondeh who attempted to stop them from carrying out their unlawful act.
He told the jury that for one count of shooting with intent to kill, the assailant shot Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) at Major-General Dauda Fred Alpha’s vehicle at Murray Town junction with the intention to kill him. He therefore called on the jurors to return a guilty verdict on all the indictments.
The accused had earlier argued that he was coerced to make the confession. He said he was tortured in a police cell together with his colleague, who eventually died. He denied his involvement in the failed coup.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (22/07/24)
