Koita's lawyers call for his acquittal and discharge in the Sierra Leone treason trial. The judge will rule on June 26.
In Freetown, Sierra Leone, Sigismund A. Conteh, the lead defense lawyer representing Amadu Koita Makalo in the ongoing treason trial, has urged Justice Komba Kamanda to acquit and discharge his client of all charges. Conteh argued that state prosecutors failed to meet the threshold required to prove treason, misprision of treason, murder, and other related offenses.
During his oral 'no case' submission, Conteh emphasized that although Koita
faces multiple charges, including murder and treason connected to a failed coup
on November 26, 2023, the prosecution's evidence was insufficient. He
specifically scrutinized the testimonies of key prosecution witnesses.
Conteh highlighted the testimony of Major General Alpha and Lieutenant
Colonel Sandi. Sandi testified to seeing Koita in a vehicle at the Cockerill
headquarters on the day of the alleged coup but could not determine Koita's
intent or purpose. Conteh argued that this testimony did not provide concrete
evidence of Koita's involvement in treasonous activities.
Further, Conteh examined the testimony of Staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma,
which he said was consistent with Koita’s statement to the Criminal
Investigation Department (CID). Koroma testified that while he was at Murray
Town, he was informed that Koita had been captured and arrested, aligning with
Koita's version of events.
Conteh also challenged the testimony of Inspector Mohamed Jusu, a cyber
analyst at CID and the twenty-seventh prosecution witness. Jusu presented a
phone recovered from Koita but did not clarify whether the photos in the
phone's gallery were sent by Koita or not. Conteh pointed out that Koita had
stated he visited Pa Sesay for traditional help, a claim Jusu's testimony did
not dispute. Moreover, only one photo from the gallery was shown to Koita.
In his closing argument, Conteh referenced CCTV footage from the Pademba
Road Correctional Center, which depicted Koita crossing the street at the
prison's gate. According to Conteh, this footage indicated that Koita was under
the assailants' custody when apprehended, supporting his innocence.
Additionally, Conteh noted that no weapon or magazine was found on Koita at the
time of his arrest, further distancing him from the murders on November 26,
2024.
Conteh concluded that the state prosecutors had not presented any
substantial evidence linking Koita to the charges. Therefore, he requested
Justice Kamanda to acquit and discharge Koita due to the lack of evidence.
In response, principal state prosecutor Ahmed J. M. Bockarie maintained that
the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to warrant a trial. He
asserted that none of the prosecution's witnesses had been discredited and that
their testimonies established a systematic attack on the government.
Bockarie cited the testimonies of the 1st, 7th, 12th 18th, 24th, and 29th
to 31st prosecution witnesses, arguing that these accounts confirmed the
existence of a coup plot and detailed the attacks on military facilities at
Cockerill, Wilberforce, and Murray Town. He emphasized that the evidence
presented remained unchallenged by the defense.
Bockarie urged the court to reject Conteh's submission for acquittal and
discharge, arguing that the prosecution had successfully proven their case
against Koita.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Kamanda adjourned the
matter to Wednesday, June 26, 2024, for a ruling on the oral 'no case'
submission. Until then, the accused will remain in custody at Freetown's Male and Female Correctional Centers.
This trial has drawn significant attention, highlighting the complexities of
legal proceedings in cases involving allegations of treason and high-stakes
political conflict. The upcoming ruling will be closely watched as it has the
potential to set important precedents for future legal interpretations and the
handling of similar cases in Sierra Leone.