By Francis H Murray
Former Defense Minister Alfred Paolo Conteh is set to take the witness box today at the High Court in Freetown to begin his defense in the ongoing treason trial. Earlier this week, the defense’s no case submissions for the first and second accused persons were dismissed by Justice Momoh Jah Stevens.
Rtd. Major Alfred Paolo Conteh is jointly charged along with the deputy head of the Small Arms Commission Sahr Antony Sinnah and Prince George Hughes with a sixteen count charge ranging from treason to possession of small arms without a valid license, and having a loaded arm in a public place.
State Prosecutors allege that the first accused prepared to carry out by force an assassination of His Excellency Julius Maada Bio during his visit at State House upon the President’s invitation for a meeting in Mach this year.
Amadu Koroma lawyer for the third accused had told the court that he was satisfied with the statement his client made to the police and the evidence before the court and his case was therefore closed.
Copyright © 2020 Politico Online
