By Allieu Sahid Tunkara
Lead State Prosecutor at the court martial currently trying 13 soldiers of the Sierra Leone army for alleged mutiny has threatened to leave the tribunal during a cross examination. Gerard Soyei made the statement recently during the cross examination of the 2nd accused RSLAF 18164277 Frederick Wallace Johnson, a Class-2 Warrant Officer.
“I will withdraw if your Lordship cannot allow me to establish inconsistencies,” Soyei stated when the Judge Advocate upheld the defence’s objection that the witness was “not legally obliged” to answer to the prosecutor’s question. The prosecution was inquiring about whether the witness works for six days in a week. Soyei said he would leave and not return to the process if Judge Advocate Otto During did not let him bring out “inconsistencies” he had found out in the testimony of the 2nd accused.
The lead defence lawyer Julius Nye Cuffie objected to the prosecutor’s “open-ended question,” stating that the 2nd accused was testifying that he had reported for duty every day except Sunday at the Sierra Leone Maritime Wing based at Government Wharf in Freetown where he was posted.
Judge Advocate Otto During upheld the defence lawyer’s objection, and urged the prosecuting counsel to rephrase the question.
“Put the question in a better way so that the witness can answer to your question,” During warned.
In his testimony, Warrant Officer Frederick Wallace Johnson intimated the court that he was a diver attached to the Maritime Wing at Government Wharf. He said he had known all his co-accused persons but the 5th whom he had been accused to have conspired with, except during their detention.
“I am highly surprised to be arrested and charged to court on the allegations of planning and conspiring to commit mutiny against the leadership of the Army, and to overthrow the government of Sierra Leone,” Frederick Wallace Johnson stated.
Arrested and imprisoned in August, 2013, the 13 accused soldiers are standing trial for various offences of conspiracy, mutiny and failing to suppress mutiny. They deny all charges, and the accused are in remand at the Pa Demba Road Correctional facility.
The matter was adjourned to Wednesday 28th January, 2015.
© Politico 27/01/15
