In a significant development within the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), Staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma is potentially facing life imprisonment, according to the President of the Seven Board Member Committee overseeing the case. This revelation follows the first accused's guilty plea to a nine-count charge while maintaining a not guilty plea to the remaining charges.

The lead prosecutor and Director of Public Prosecution, Osman Ibrahim Kanu, accepted the guilty plea of the first accused, with Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba reinforcing the court's acceptance of the admission on the specified charges.

Osman Kanu, in his opening remarks, emphasized the burden of proof lying with the prosecution, asserting that the actions of all accused persons violated the Acts and Provisions of the RSLAF.

The prosecution outlined that the events of November 26th, 2023, were premeditated and involved the illegal acquisition of arms and ammunition. The prosecutor alleged that accused individuals sought charms from an herbalist to aid their operations, leading to the murder of loyal military personnel, collaboration with the enemy, and failure to report critical information to commanding officers.

In defense, Lead Counsel Ady Maculey Esq acknowledged his anger at the unfortunate events and reminded the Seven Board members of their duty to objectively assess the factual evidence without emotions. He urged them to focus on determining whether the accused, who are serving members of the Armed Forces, are guilty of the charges.

Maculey cautioned against taking picturesque evidence at face value, emphasizing that images could be interpreted differently based on circumstances. He anticipated the presentation of phone call records by the prosecution and assured that the defense would call witnesses to cast doubt on the evidence.

The trial commenced with the First Prosecution Witness, Lieutenant Colonel Bockarie Marrah, outlining his role as a commanding officer and identifying all accused persons in the dock by their ranks, units, and numbers. Captain Sheku Tunkara, the Second Prosecution Witness, testified, leading to the courtroom's closure for a critical witness discussing the country's security apparatus.

As the legal proceedings unfold, SierraLoadeds provides continuous coverage of this significant trial. Stay updated on the latest news, music, and videos from Sierra Leone by subscribing to our free subscription service.