BY: MOHAMED SAHR
At the on-going court marital trial, the eighteen-prosecutor witness 18182347 Corporal Saio Kamara has on Thursday 29th February, 2024 testified at the ongoing court martial trial that the 20th accused person Deniel Kemo knowledge about Amadu Koita as a former Member of RSLAF.
When making the testimony, Corporal Saio Kamara who is a Military personnel deployed at 5 Battalion at Wilberforce Barracks, as well an investigator, said he recognized the twenty accused during the course of his investigation.
He recalled on the 25th November 2023, that he was on duty in the morning hours, as he was the guarding officer together with other soldiers when he was called to investigate and interview the accused.
The witness said at the course of the interview; he asked the accused if at any time he contacted Amadu Koita and the accused told him that he has never call or texted Amadu Koita.
The witness said he asked the accused weather at any point in time he communicated with Amadu Koita, before, after the 26th November, 2023, he said, which he affirmed that he never had communication with Amadu Koita but knew him as former military office.
Corporal Saio cautioned and questioned the accused in krio and recorded in English. “He attested to be true by affixing his right-hand thumb print and I signed it,” Corporal Saio told the court.
The cross-examination saw the witness being interrogated as to why there was no other person to witness when he was taken statement of the accused person; he replied that he was the only person that was the accused.
There was no other cross examination from both the state counsels and the defence.
However, one of the state counsels requested for the witness to retire to his seat.
At that point, the other prosecuting witness 18182152 Corporal Turay, the 19th witness entered the dock, and immediately took an oath as to the fact surrounding his investigation and statement.
He took statements from the 21st, 24th and 27th accused persons. Corporal Turay said he took voluntary statements from the listed accused and witnessed by Staff Sergeant Sankoh.
He stressed that he could not determine any evidence from the statements he took because he serves as an investigator.
Corporal Turay revealed that the 21st accused was arrested in Makeni and taken to the Police Headquarters in Freetown, that was where he took off on his investigation.
On that moment, his boss Staff Sergeant Johnny instructed him to continue with the voluntary statement for the 21st accused.
In addition, the 21st accused told him that he would anything in the absence of his lawyer, who is Ady McCauley. interview was suspended and commenced before lawyer Ady McCauley.
After several cross examination and answers, Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba asked the board members for questioning, which they replied in negative affirmation.
Mark Ngegba then adjourned the matter on Friday 1st March 2024.
