Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – Ibrahim Bundu Kamara, a military officer, testified on Wednesday before Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba and the Members of the Board, alleging severe abuse by soldiers at the Presidential Lodge.
Kamara claimed he was tortured and forced to drink urine by the soldiers.
During his testimony, led by Defence Counsel A. I Kamara, Bundu identified himself as an active member of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces. He vehemently denied all allegations against him, including charges of mutiny and murder. He accused the police of omitting parts of his statement where he detailed the torture and abuse.
Kamara pointed out discrepancies in the court’s records, stating that the officer who interviewed him at the CID Headquarters was Inspector Bona, not Sergeant Johnny, as the court had noted.
The court was shown CCTV footage of Kamara in military uniform, handcuffed to a window at the Presidential Lodge on November 26, 2023, at around 7 a.m. Kamara testified that he was under duress and had been coerced into making statements without understanding their content.
Kamara recounted the events of November 26, 2023, when he was allegedly captured by masked men, one of whom he identified as resembling Koita, another detainee.
Kamara stated he was taken to the armoury store at gunpoint, where he saw Corporal Turay and several masked officers, including Captain Senessie, Captain T.L.K, and Captain Jalloh. He claimed the assailants forced him to assemble weapons.
Under duress, Kamara said he witnessed Corporal Bawa being ordered to load magazines. He managed to escape to a nearby school and hid until he heard a fire alarm around 6:55 a.m. Kamara then proceeded to the military headquarters, where Major Sesay instructed him to issue arms to other soldiers.
While issuing weapons, Kamara was apprehended by a CID officer and soldiers from the Presidential Guards Force.
He was taken to the Presidential Lodge, where he claimed he was searched, robbed of his money and important documents, and then transferred to CID headquarters for questioning.
The court proceedings have been adjourned to Thursday, July 4, 2024.
