By Audrey Raymonda John
“Our plan was to arrest president Bio and send him to exile in Guinea,” were the words of second accused person in the ongoing treason trial.
The second accused Mohamed Jalloh in his statement when read before the court by Sergeant Issa Kamara said that after their fail coup operations on 26 November he sneaked into the house of Bai Mamoud Bangura without his knowledge.
He also stated that they did not arrange the coup to kill people but their only plan was to arrest president Bio and sent him on exile to Guinea.
Sergeant 8526 Issa Kamara read this statement yesterday before Justice Komba Kamanda and the twelve panel of jurors at the ongoing treason trial involving Amadu Koita Makolo and elven others.
Led in evidence by state Counsel Ahmed James Bockarie Sergeant Kamara before reading the statements of accused Mohamed Jalloh he tender it before the court and was mark as exhibit S1-35.
Whiles reading the statements accused Jalloh the witness said at first the accused said he has no knowledge of the allegation levied against him about the coup but later make confessional statement.
Witness Jalloh in his statement said he joined the army forces in 1999 and he went through the training school at Benguma and he was given the rank of lance Corporal.
The witness furthered that accused Jalloh in his statement further states that he left the arm force without leave because he has fix mind to travel to Germany.
Witness Kamara continued that witness Jalloh furthered in his statement that before leaving the force he should hand over uniforms and whatever belongs to the force but he did not.
Witness Jalloh furthered in his statement that sometimes in March 2023 they have plans to overthrow the government.
Accused Jalloh said before the incident said he had a call from Alhaji Koroma of eleven battalion and he told him that he got a call from Koita who wants him to be part of the coup.
Witness Kamara said accused Jalloh also told the investigation team that after the call some months later he received the sum of two million, three hundred thousand old Leones and Alhaji another accused told him that it is transport fare for him to travel from Freetown to Kambia and the money was sent by Koita.
Accused Jalloh furthered that when he went to Kambia a meeting was held in a kushu nut farm and there Koita told them that they want to liberate the army.
Reading the statements further accused Jalloh said he asked Koita about his safety but Koita told him that senior officers are also involved in the coup and so he should not fear.
Jalloh further told the police that Koita then opened his laptop and called out the people that are involved in the coup including Lahai Laurence Leema .
Accused Jalloh also told them that they should give him time so that he will think about it and he immediately left for Freetown and went to Bai Mamoud Bangura`s house.
Witness Kamara further read that Bai Mamoud Bangura drove him out of his house after noticing their plans and Bai Mamoud told him that he is a politician and would not want problem and he then went away but he was still going to the Bai Mamoud house when he was not around.
Witness Kamara reading further said accused Jalloh also told the police that he and the other coup members held several meetings at Aberdeen beach and Wilberforce and they went to one Pa Sesay for fortification of their bodies.
Accused Jalloh furthered that before the incident at 11:00 hours he left Freetown to Makeni for the fortification and their he met Koita and other military personnel for the protection and there Soriba Samura and Koita asked him to kill Bai Mamoud Bangura for betraying them because he sent him out of his house but he told them that he will not as he has helped him a lot but after they threatened him he promised to do it after the operation.
Accused Jalloh furthered that after the fortification he returns to Freetown and he stopped at Robanban village and there he saw his friend by the name of John who took him to a wedding party and later left there without his knowledge.
Accused Jalloh in his statement furthered that on the 26 November 2023, he went to Wilberforce and he sat at the door of the arms store and he observes that the main light at Wilberforce was off.
Accused Jalloh further that later a key of a black jeep was handed over to him by WO2 Turay.
He furthered in his statement that during that time firing was ongoing rapidly between them and the soldiers and there Colonel Mondeh was killed.
Accused Jalloh furthered that he became angry when Colonel Mondeh was killed and he told his colleagues that the plan was not to kill people and he asked Sergeant Amerikin that they should escape and whiles saying that a grenade bomb was sent at them and it was during this period he was able to escape and went towards Tengbeh town.
Accused Jalloh furthered that he was still running but he was arrested at King Harman road and during that process a bomb was sent at them again and they flee and he escape and ran towards Campbell street where he met a bike rider and he promise to pay him one hundred thousand Leones and he handed over the bike to him and the bike rider sat behind him and they went to Jui and he paid the money and hand over the bike to the original owner.
Accused Jalloh in his statement further states that he was arrested again at Jui but he escaped and ran towards the bush and soldiers were running after him to kill him but he escaped and ran inside the bush until night.
He said he later went to the house of Bai Mamoud Bangura unknowly to him and he went to his previous room and switched off his phone.
Witness Kamara further read that accused Jalloh said after two days he surrendered himself to the police and the police went to Bai Mamoud Bangura`s house where they requested to search his house with his consent but nothing of police interest was found except two military uniform.
Accused Jalloh in his statement further states that Koita told him to join the coup because he is a hard fighter and Koita promise to give him position when they take over.
Accused Jalloh furthered that during the coup he plays two roles one is a “reki” and two operational driver.
Accused Jalloh also told the investigators that Sergeant Janneh who is on the run gave him the military uniform for the operation on 26 November.
He furthered that the arms and ammunitions were place in a black jeep and driven to Jui by a soldier of 11 battalion as Jui is an exit root.
Accused Jalloh also stated that the arms and ammunitions were taken from the store but do not know where they are presently.
Witness Kamara further read that accused Jalloh told them that one Hawa was working with them at Wilberforce whiles doing the operation but she is presently on the run.
He furthered that their plans were to arrest Bio and sent him on exile in Guinea but not to kill him and he confirmed that “leather boot” was also part of them.
During cross examination by defense Counsel Mansaray on behalf of second accused Mohamed Jalloh the witness said initially accused Jalloh denied the allegation but later made a confessional statement.
Defense Counsel seek for an adjournment that he wants to confer with his client before continuing his cross examination.
The matter was adjourned to the 6th March 2024.
