One of the key architects of the failed November 26, 2023 coup, Staff Sergeant Idrissa Kallon, has been sentenced to 120 years in prison following his conviction on all 39 counts in the recently concluded court martial trial.
Kallon, the 9th accused in a case involving 27 individuals, was found guilty of mutiny, conspiracy to commit mutiny, murder, and several other charges related to the attempted overthrow of President Julius Maada Bio’s government.
The court proceedings revealed that Kallon had communicated his intent to attack President Bio on the night of the coup.
A key witness, known as Prosecution Witness 24 (PW 24), testified that on the night of the coup, Kallon sent him a WhatsApp voice message while he was in Egypt for training. In the message, Kallon reportedly stated, “We are going to attack President Bio at his Lodge this night… Pray for us. If we succeed, our sufferings will end, and our lives will be better.”
The witness immediately forwarded the message to his Commanding Officer in Freetown, providing crucial evidence in the trial.
Audio recordings and other evidence presented during the trial linked Kallon to key events leading up to the coup, including a ceremonial ritual in Mapaki Village and the attack on the Pademba Road Correctional Centre.
Despite the weight of the evidence, including the WhatsApp message and other exhibits, Kallon’s defense lawyer, Ady Macauley, did not challenge the admissibility of the evidence.
In his closing submission, Macauley acknowledged the gravity of the situation and stated, “You are obliged to give your verdict based on the evidence.”
The prosecution’s case was built on testimony from multiple witnesses and a range of exhibits, demonstrating the accused’s intent to overthrow the government and destabilize the nation.
