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FREETOWN, Aug 10 (Reuters) – A Sierra Leone military court has sentenced 24 soldiers to long prison terms for their role in a failed attempt to overthrow the government of President Julius Maada Bio last November.
The verdict was read out in court late Friday, with the judge sentencing the convicts 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 verdict follows the sentencing of 11 civilians, police officers and prison guards in July this year for their role 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 of 120 years.
Before the sentencing, Military Advocate General Mark Ngegba – himself a former officer – said: “We have arrived at this sentencing conclusion to send a message that the military has zero tolerance for such conduct.”
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 read out, the criminal’s family members burst into tears in the courtroom.
President Bio narrowly won a second term in office but the bid failed. His victory was contested by the main opposition party, the APC, while some local and international observers questioned the transparency of the vote.
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