In a critical development in the court martial trial of six military personnel accused of involvement in the failed coup attempt of November 26, 2023, Lieutenant Colonel Bockarie Marrah, the first prosecution witness, gave pivotal testimony before the court.
Marrah, who serves as the commanding officer at the Armed Forces Personnel Centre (AFPC), confirmed that the accused are registered members of the Sierra Leonean military. He presented key documents, including names, ranks, addresses, and service dates of the accused, which were accepted as evidence and marked Exhibits A1-8.
The trial took a dramatic turn when the sixth accused, reportedly in poor health, was seen lying on the courtroom floor. Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba swiftly intervened, instructing the accused to stand to prevent any disruption to the proceedings.
Marrah further testified that the six accused had been assigned to various military units but left their posts without authorization between July 29, 2023, and December 27, 2023.
After the personnel had been absent for more than 21 days, a Board of Inquiry (BOI) was convened, which ultimately recommended their discharge from the military.
According to Marrah, five of the accused were officially discharged on January 31, 2024, while the sixth was discharged on the very day of the failed coup, November 26, 2023.
He emphasized that his role was merely to act on orders, as he lacked the authority to independently discharge personnel. These discharge orders were presented as Exhibits B1-2.
During cross-examination by defense counsel Ibrahim Macfoy, representing the first accused, Lieutenant Marrah elaborated on the military’s protocol regarding the detention of personnel.
He confirmed that the first accused’s salary was halted on November 26, 2023, coinciding with his discharge date, but clarified that the accused should have continued receiving payment until then.
Marrah also acknowledged that the first accused was deployed to the 43rd Battalion in Pujehun District prior to his discharge.
Addressing the third accused, Marrah testified that while he was aware of the reasons for the discharge, he had no record of the third accused attending a program in Tanzania. He added that it was not his responsibility to inform the accused of their discharge status.
Following the day’s testimony, Judge Advocate Ngegba remanded the accused in custody and adjourned the case until October 23, 2024.
