By Feima Sesay
Police Inspector Abubakarr Kargbo has on Monday 3 March, 2025 before Justice Alhaji Momoh Jah Stevens Freetown tendered the “voluntary caution statements” of the first accused Alie Badara Kanu which the Court said he made to the police base on the allegations that he and the second accused Thaimu Bangura conspired with other person’s to overthrow the government of Sierra Leone.
Led in evidence by State Lawyer Yusuf Isaac Sesay, the witness
Detective Inspector Abubakarr Kargbo said he is attached at the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters as an investigator.
He recognized both accused persons in the dock and recalled on 21 April 2024.
He said on that day, while on duty he received a report in respect of treason and the matter was sent to him for investigation.
The police witness further that he collected the mobile phones of the first accused Badara and handed it over to the Cyber Unit of the said station for forensic examination and analysis.
He explained that on the same day, he and Inspector Hassan Dumbuya interviewed the first accused person Alie Badara Kanu by observing the “Judges rules “ but said the interview was terminated due to further enquires that were ongoing by the investigating team.
He continued that on the 25 April 2024, him and Inspector Dumbuya recommenced the interview based on what the first accused said that he wanted to make revelation.
The police witness further explained that the first accused Badara was cautioned and questioned again by observing the judges rules and after the voluntary caution statements they waited for the reply from the Cyber Unit .
He said on the 27 June 2024, he and Inspector Dumbuya recommenced the interview of Alie Badara base on the information received by the Cyber Unit of the Police .
The caution statement of the first accused Alie Badara Kanu was tendered before the court as exhibit B1-33 to form part of the prosecution’s case.
Reading the statement of the first accused Alie Badara Kanu , he denied the allegation.
In his statement , he said he was a former Military Officer as Captain and had served for thirty-three (33) years in the military as a Quarter Master.
Badara in his statement said he was deployed at 4th battalion in Makeni.
Badara in his statement said that after retirement he was at Makeni doing construction work but later decided to come to Waterloo to visit his family where he met his junior worker Ceaser.
The witness said Badara in his statement further told the police that he visited Ceaser in his house and there he came in contact with one Captain John and one Mr Senessie who told him that they needed to recruit men to help them removed both the APC and SLPP party in the country.
The witness explained further that Badara told them that it would be difficult for them to accomplished this task as both parties had big people who are of high esteem.
Badara in his statement when read said Ceaser told him that the actual plan to overthrow the government should occur on the 19 June 2024 ; as it was the expering date for the tripartite committee.
The witness said Badara said he was later arrested base on the allegations levied against him.
After reading the statements of Badara, the witness narrated that on 29 July 2024 , he charged the accused with the offenses of treason and misprision of treason which was also done by observing the judges rules.
The charge statements of Badara was tendered before the court and was marked as exhibit C1-2.
The witness was cross examined by defense Lawyer S. Turay on behalf of the first accused Badara.
The accused were arraigned before the court on two count charges of “treason contrary to section 3 (1) (a) of the treason and state offences Act 1963 Act No.10 of 1963 as repealed and replaced by the treason and state offences amendment Act 1963 Act No.21 of 1963 and misprision of treason.””
The indictment stated that the accused on a date unknown “between 24th June 2023 and 29th June 2024 in Freetown prepared to overthrow the government of Sierra Leone by unlawful means .
It further said that the accused between the 1st January and 16th April 2024 in Freetown, well knowing that Captain Senesie, captain John Conteh, Caesar and other persons unknown had prepared to overthrow the government of Sierra Leone by unlawful means, unlawfully concealed the said information.
Both accused were remanded in custody.
The the case continues.
