By Yusufu S. Bangura
The fourth prosecution witness in the ongoing treason trial of Amadu Koita and 11 others, RSLAF Sergeant Gibri Fadika, attached at the Cockeril Military Headquarters, has yesterday told the court that the 6th accused, Hassan Leigh, a bike rider, was seen putting on a military uniform on the 26th November,2023.
The witness recognised the 6th accused and recalled on November 26th, 2023.
He said while he was at Juba Barracks, he learnt about the firing incident that took place at Wilberforce Barracks.
He said he later heard an announcement for all military personnel to report to the barracks.
He said when he arrived at the barracks; he saw the 6th accused in a full military uniform, together with one Sergeant Moseray alighting from a motorbike.
He further stated that while he was at the check point, the 6th accused approached him and asked that he escort him, but he told the accused that since he was in a military uniform, he should go for himself.
He said the accused later told him that he could not ride the bike, so he needed his help.
He added that since the accused was in a military uniform, he decided to escort him as a colleague, albeit he never knew the accused before, but took him to Hamilton.
He stated that upon their arrival at Hamilton, he parked the bike while the accused alighted and went to his residence and brought some fuel.
He said they later left and went to Goderich where the accused asked him to wait as he wanted to greet his friend.
He said while the accused was going some security personnel stopped him.
The witness continued that they were at Goderich when the 6th accused asked that he escort him to another friend at 7 Battalion (Goderich).
He added that when the accused went to his friend, he (the witness) also went to his brother, but when he returned he could not find the 6th accused.
He said he later return to Juba Barracks with the said bike and handed it over to his colleagues for safe keeping.
He said since that day he didn’t set eyes on the accused and that he was later summoned by the military police to make statement.
During cross examination by the 6th accused himself, the witness said he is a clerk attached to the military police with over 20 years working experience.
The witness further stated that he didn’t interrogate the 6th accused when he asked that he escort him because there was no check parade at that moment.
Also testifying, fifth prosecution witness, Detective Sergeant 11094 Philip Bob Smart, attached at Aberdeen Police Station, recalled on the 2nd December 2023 when he together with joint investigation team obtained statement from the 6th accused.
The statement of the accused was later produced and tendered in court to form part of the evidence.
While reading the statement of the accused he made to the police, the witness said the accused told him that the 8th (Bai Momodu Bangura) was in custody of the police, but when the witness was asked whether he could recognize the 8th accused, he said no.
During the cross examination, the 6th accused said he did not mention the 8th accused in his statement, but the witness.
The witness was also asked whether there was any confusion concerning the name of the 8th accused whose name was mentioned in his statement, the witness said he was not aware about it. The accused therefore told the court that the said statement was not made by him because he did not made mention of the 8th accused.
The witness confirmed that the accused was in possession of the military uniform at the time of his arrest, adding the accused mentioned the name of the person who gave him the uniform.
He said he was not the one that investigated the said individual, but the said individual made statement to the police.
However, Justice Komba Kamanda remanded the accused persons to the Male and Female Correctional Centre and slated the matter for today.
