By: Audrey Raymonda John
Preliminary investigations into an ongoing treason and murder case resumed on Monday, June 9, 2025, before Magistrate Mustapha Braima-Jah at Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1. The accused, Joseph Dumbuya and Ahmed Sesay, are being investigated for treason and murder, contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
During the session, Hassan Andrew Silas Kombay, a police officer attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters in Freetown, testified as a prosecution witness. He told the court that on March 13, 2025, the accused persons were arrested and brought to the CID for questioning.
Officer Kombay confirmed that statements were obtained from the accused persons, which he tendered in court as evidence.
During cross-examination, Defence Counsel Chernoh Kamara asked whether the witness was aware that one of the accused was employed by the Deputy Bank Governor and was also a businessman at the time of arrest. Officer Kombay confirmed this information.
Following the cross-examination, State Prosecutor Yusuf Isaac Sesay informed the court that the prosecution had presented four witnesses and would be relying on the evidence already presented.
Magistrate Mustapha Braima-Jah adjourned the matter to Tuesday, June 10, 2025, for continuation of the preliminary investigation.
In a similar ongoing investigation, the State is also pursuing a treason and misprison of treason case against Sallieu Jalloh.
State Prosecutor Yusuf Isaac Sesay applied to have the accused prosecuted with the consent of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. Magistrate Braima-Jah granted the application, allowing the case to proceed.
The same witness, Officer Hassan Andrew Silas Kombay, testified that he recalled the accused being arrested in Makeni on March 13, 2025, and brought to CID Headquarters in Freetown.
During cross-examination, Defence Counsel Komba Kassie-Gborie asked whether the accused was on the list of persons declared wanted by the police. Kombay replied in the negative, but said the accused had been implicated during investigations.
The accused in both cases are being investigated for attempting to overthrow the government of President Julius Maada Bio. They are alleged to have been involved in the break-in at the male and female correctional centres, during which inmates were unlawfully released and facilities were damaged. The investigations continue.