By: Audrey Raymonda John
On Tuesday, Joseph Dumbuya and Ahmed Turay appeared before Principal Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah at Freetown Magistrate Court No. 1 for a ruling on serious charges of treason and murder.
The accused face charges of treason, contrary to Section 3(1)(a) of the Treason and State Offences Act of 1963 (as amended), and murder, contrary to Section 1 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861.
According to the indictment, between 11th and 26th November 2023, Dumbuya and Turay allegedly conspired with others to seize strategic locations, including military installations and government facilities such as the 5th Battalion Wilberforce Barracks, Joint Force Command Headquarters at Cockeril, 3rd Infantry Brigade at Murray Town, Sierra Leone Correctional Center, and the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation at New England Ville.
The situation escalated on 26th November 2023, when the accused reportedly launched a violent attack on the correctional center, unlawfully releasing inmates and fatally injuring Correctional Officer Obi Isaac Johnson.
During the ruling, Magistrate Jah emphasized that the accused are charged with treason for allegedly plotting to unlawfully overthrow the Government of Sierra Leone. He noted that the prosecution, led by Yusuf I. Sesay Esq., presented four witnesses who testified and were cross-examined by defense counsel C. Kamara Esq.
After reviewing the evidence, Magistrate Jah expressed satisfaction with the prosecution’s case, stating that the accused had ample opportunity to examine the evidence. He therefore committed Dumbuya and Turay to the High Court of Freetown to stand trial.
When given the chance to make further statements, the accused requested their counsel to be present for their defense. They also stated they had no witnesses but declared, “Allah is their witness.”
The case will now proceed to the High Court for further legal proceedings.