By Allieu Sahid Tunkara
A Squadron leader in the Air Wing of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces has been arraigned before a military court in Freetown for allegedly falsifying a United Kingdom (UK) study leave approval.
Joseph Shenks is also charged with a conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline.
It is 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 defence ministry, contrary to section 65 (a) of the Armed Forces Act of 1961 as amended.
It is also alleged that in the same period and place the accused acted in a manner to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, contrary to section 71 of the same Act.
On Friday the accused testified on his own behalf before the Judge Advocate Alhaji Abu Bakarr King, led in evidence by the lead defence lawyer Emmanuel Shears Moses.
He told the court that he was a military pilot and squadron leader (equivalent to an army major) and that he had served the army for 21 years.
He explained that during his service he had once faced an investigation relating to military discipline, but stated that he was not found wanting.
The accused further told the court that while on a study leave in 2011 he proceeded to UK to pursue a military course which, he said, he completed in December 2013.
During the evidence-in-chief, the defence counsel questioned the accused in respect of exhibit ‘G’ which was a photocopy of a letter dated 14th December 2012, bearing the name and signature of the Director of Personnel.
In the letter the author was requesting an extension of a study leave to enable him enrol for a course at the Chartered Institute of Management and Accountancy (CIMA) at the London School of Business and Finance.
The accused replied that he was not the author of the letter and that he knew nothing about that institution.
“According to the date on that letter, I was still in the UK, and I instructed nobody to make such a request on my behalf,” he told the court.
He also explained that since he was arrested, he had never seen the original of the letter of request which the prosecution alleged he authored.
The accused added that he had faced three investigations in respect of the letter of request but only one report of those investigations was given to him by the military investigators.
The report into forgery allegations against the accused was served on the prosecution team for examination before it was shown to him to explain what he knew about its content. But the team objected to the move.
The prosecutor, Ishmail Philip Mamie said the defence ought to have served the document on him before he appeared in court.
His objection was upheld by the Judge Advocate who ordered the defence team to serve the prosecution team the document prior to the court proceedings.
The accused was arrested in September 2014 but was granted bail.
The matter comes up again on Tuesday, May 5.
© Politico 05/05/15
