A group of 27 military personnel, including a Lieutenant Colonel, has been brought before a court martial in connection to the thwarted coup attempt that took place in Sierra Leone in November 2023.
The charges against them include a staggering 88 counts, ranging from mutiny with the intent to overthrow the government to failure to suppress mutiny, aiding the enemy, communicating with the enemy, stealing public or service property, fraudulent misapplication of public or service property, and even murder.
During the court proceedings, no pleas were recorded from the accused, as before the charges could be formally presented, one of the individuals fell ill in the courtroom and had to be promptly taken away.
The case has been adjourned, with the next hearing scheduled for Wednesday.
The gravity of the charges underscores the severity of the alleged involvement of these military personnel in the attempted coup, marking a critical moment in Sierra Leone’s legal and political landscape.
Source: Umaru Fofana