By Henry Kargbo
Last Corporal David Saidu the twelveth witness has told the court that CCTV footages showed that the six accused person seen firing at the Pademba Road Correctional Centre during the prison break. Corporal David was making his statement while issues out his evidence of the accused person at the on ongoing court martial trial at the High Court of Sierra Leone before Judge Advocate ‘’Mark Ngegba’’.
In his statement the twelveth witness told the court that he attached at the RSLAF Investigation Department. He added that he have evidence gathered on the fourth, fifth and twelvth accused persons who stormed Wilberforce military armoury, crock rill barrack, Murray town barrack and the Pademba correctional Centre.
He told the court that he and Detective inspector Mawoh Kargbo took voluntary statement from the accused persons on December 4th 2023, where they questioned and cautioned them in English and read in Krio.
He said the fourth accused person responded in Krio and attested by affixing his right hand thumb print which qualified that the fourth accused person was not understand any threat. He said as an investigator he primarily attached at the crock rill Barrack, whose duty is to detect crime, to arrest military personnel for an alleged crime, as well gather information and prosecute military personnel.
He recall that he recognized the fourth, fifth and twelfth accused persons in the dock on the day of attaining interview from them. Corporal David added that on 6th December 2023, he had an opportunity to question and cautions the fourth, fifth and twelfth accused persons.
He told the court that he equally recognized all the statements taken from the accused persons. When giving the evidence, the prosecutor counsel asked him to help the court by reading the evidence for which it would be part of the court records.
Counsels at both sides tender all documents for cross-examination. The witness testified that the entire investigation started with smaller evidences. He said during his investigation, he told the fourth accused person that he was not obliged to say anything, but he can have an opportunity to have legal expert on his behalf.
He also told the court martial that he took voluntary statement on the six accused person, which was read to him and explained in krio.
He informed the court that the sixth accused person was tired not injured prior of obtaining statement, which the defence counsel asked about the status of the sixth accused person.
He mentioned that the fourth accused denied that he never partook in the firing of the Pademba Road correctional centre. But said that CCTV footages showed that the sixth accused person was seen firing at the Pademba Road Correctional Centre during the prison break. The mater has been adjoined to Friday 9th February 2024 for other trial.
