[ad_1]
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — A Sierra Leone military court on Friday sentenced 24 soldiers to long prison terms for their role in a failed attempt in November 2023 to overthrow the government of President Julius Maada Bio.
The judge read out the verdicts in court, sentencing those found guilty to prison terms ranging from 50 to 120 years.
They were among 27 suspects tried by a military court on Nov. 26 for their role in the failed coup, in which gunmen attacked military barracks, two prisons and other sites, freeing some 2,200 prisoners and leaving more than 20 people dead.
The sentencing comes after 11 civilians, police officers and prison guards were jailed in July for their roles in the rebellion.
After hours of deliberations, the seven-member military jury unanimously found most of the soldiers being court-martialed guilty of 88 charges in total, including mutiny, murder, treason and theft of public or service property.
All but one of those tried were ordinary soldiers. A lieutenant colonel was found guilty and sentenced to the longest prison term, 120 years.
Before the verdict was announced, military judge Mark Ngba, a former military officer, said: “We came to this conclusion to send a message to the outside world that the military has zero tolerance for such behavior.”
Of the remaining three, one was acquitted, one was sentenced early for pleading guilty, and the third’s trial will end later.
When the verdict was announced, the criminal’s family members burst into tears in the courtroom.
The failed attempt came after an election in which Bio narrowly won a second term. His victory was contested by the main opposition APC, while some local and international observers also questioned the transparency of the vote.
-
Reuters
Reuters is a news organization founded in 1851 and owned by Thomson Reuters, headquartered in Toronto, Canada. It is one of the world’s largest news agencies, providing financial news and international coverage in more than 16 languages to more than 1,000 newspapers and 750 broadcasters worldwide.
[ad_2]
Source link
