BY: MOHAMED SAHR
In the latest session of the court martial proceedings at the High Court of Sierra Leone on Thursday, March 14th, 2024, Lieutenant Colonel S.A Sandy, the commanding officer of the Joint Provost Unit (MP) stationed at RSLAF headquarters in Cockrill Barracks, Freetown, took the stand as the 25th witness. Testifying before Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba and board members, Lt. Col. Sandy provided crucial insights into the events surrounding the prison break on November 26th, 2024.
During his testimony, Lt. Col. Sandy recounted the harrowing experience of being captured and held at gunpoint by Amadu Koita and his accomplices. Notably, he identified Staff Sergeant Abu Dauda and Staff Sergeant Idriss Kallon among the assailants, along with an individual identified as officer Kabba, formerly the Chief Security Officer of former President Ernest Koroma.
Lt. Col. Sandy revealed that Koita demanded his iPhone 14 Promax and one of the assailants, Patrick Senesie, demanded his Samsung Galaxy 05 phone. Despite being under intense pressure, Lt. Col. Sandy complied with their demands, hoping for his eventual release.
It was disclosed during cross-examination that the assailants were not in uniform, with one identified as a retired military personnel named officer Kargbo. Lt. Col. Sandy also testified that he overheard Koita and Kabba discussing plans to attack the Joint Logistics Unit at Murray Town Barracks for arms and ammunition.
In a pivotal moment, Lt. Col. Sandy revealed his true identity to Koita, presenting himself as a commander with extensive security experience. This led to a series of events where Lt. Col. Sandy strategically misled Koita and his associates, ultimately thwarting their plans.
As the events unfolded, Lt. Col. Sandy pretended to cooperate with Koita’s demands, all the while working behind the scenes to sabotage their efforts. He cleverly misled Koita into believing that he was cooperating, while covertly alerting authorities to the impending threat.
In a daring escape, Lt. Col. Sandy managed to outsmart his captors, including Staff Sergeant Abu Dauda, and successfully fled from the scene, bringing an end to Koita’s deadly heist and failed coup attempt.
The proceedings were adjourned by Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba to reconvene on Friday, March 15th, 2024, as the court continues to unravel the intricate details of this high-stakes case.
The testimony provided by Lt. Col. Sandy sheds light on the bravery and quick thinking displayed in the face of danger, underscoring the resilience of the Sierra Leonean armed forces against threats to national security.
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