AG’s office set to charge 10 more soldiers
By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
The Attorney General, Mohamed Lamin Tarawally has said the state is on the verge of charging ten more military officers in connection with the November 26 attempted coup.
Tarawally was speaking at a press briefing in his office detailing the progress of the cases in court, in relation to the November 26 attacks in the capital, Freetown.
“We have ten more that we could charge at anytime from now, as we speak, they are processing them now. As more evidence shows we will keep charging until the trial is over,” the AG said.
Already 27 serving military officers are facing court martial, following allegations of their involvement. If they go on and charge an additional 10, it will take the total to 37. All 27 men combined are facing 88 count charges against them. Last week, in a dramatic twist, accused number 1 Alhaji Koroma plead guilty to nine counts charges, whiles denying two. He has been found guilty and is waiting for sentencing.
AG Tarawally said investigation is still ongoing, and that could see more people charged; civilian or military, if there is enough evidence against them.
“Some people were released on bail because they did not meet the threshold for us to hold them permanently whiles we continue investigating. We respect the right of everyone, so some of the people who were questioned were released on bail.”
The AG’s office has separated their prosecution in to several folds; one focusing on military personnel who were allegedly involved, one dealing with civilians and another dealing with the former President, Ernest Bai Koroma.
By far the most political charged case of all has been the one against the former president.
The last six months has been a very busy period for the state’s prosecution department. AG Tarawalley said these cases came whiles they were preparing to properly start their case against officers and civilians arrested last August for charges of Treason.
The Attorney General, said despite the volume of cases they have to deal with, they are committed to a swift trial.
