By Allieu Sahid Tunkara
The accused in the on-going trial at the Court Martial presided over by His Lordship Alhaji Abu Bakarr King has told the court that he had never, at any time, smeared the image of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF).
Joseph Shenks made this statement during cross-examination conducted by the prosecution counsel, Ishmail Philip Mamie, with regards to the Forgery case for which the he was arraigned before the court. Shenks, while responding to a question posed by the prosecution, said he had been brought before frequent summary dealings for various disciplinary offences in which he was acquitted and discharged as there were no evidences against him. He further explained to the court that he was victim of a number of investigations because he was trying to expose army officers involved in the selling of military air wing assets. Shenks told the court that the manner in which the assets were about to be sold would not be beneficial to either the army or the country.
“To stop army officers from involving in such act, I wrote a letter of advice on the way the items were to be sold that would bring much benefit to the nation, the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the Airwing,” the accused said.
In trying to rebut the statement of the accused, the lead prosecution counsel put it to him that he had not been truthful to the court and that he was trying to smear the image of his superiors as corrupt officials.
While the accused was testifying, the prosecution counsel showed him a document marked ‘Exhibit- H’ being a correspondence dated 14th December, 2012, written by Major Cole informing the British High Commission in Sierra Leone that the accused was not supposed to stay in the United Kingdom in extension of the study leave, a document which the accused said he was not aware of.
Squadron Leader (Major) Shenks is standing trial for two counts at the court martial of the Republic Of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) Headquaters on Wilkinson Road for alleged falsification of a UK study leave approval and conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline.
The prosecution alleged that while in the UK on dates between 10th and 15th of December, 2012, Shenks knowingly made a false study leave approval document and inserted a false name and signature purporting to be that of the Director of Personnel at the Ministry of Defence contrary to section 65 (a) of the Armed Forces Act of 1961 as amended.
Bail still in force.
Matter adjourned to 26th May.
© Politico 21/05/15
