By Mada Augustine Ngombu
The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) on Tuesday the 1 November dismissed two serving personnel from its ranks for “misconduct”.
A Sergeant and a Lance Corporal, whose names were not made public up to the time of going to press, were seen in a video that went viral, looking disoriented, apparently under the influence of a harmful substance.
Speaking to Politico, the Acting Director of Defense Public Relations and Information, Lieutenant- Colonel Issa Bangura said the soldiers were tried under the force’s misconduct policy.
The officer said the actions of the two men contravened the professional standards of the armed forces, and were duly given a fair trial, before they were dismissed from the armed forces.
Lt. Col Bangura couldn’t be drawn on the notion that the soldiers were tried for drugs-related offences, and asserted they faced misconduct charges. He said when personnel do something that goes against the institution’s policies, the offender will be liable for punishment based on the crime committed.
He further said that because their conduct will impact on the operational capability of the armed forces, they were not wrongfully dismissed, but according to the rules and regulations of the armed forces.
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