Sierra Leone News: RSLAF Penalised Seven Soldiers
By Stephen V. Lansana
Seven military personnel have been penalised for “negligently permitting the alleged escape of a prisoner” Captain Patrick Edwin Kamara who was standing trail at the Court Martial, the Staff Officer Grade 2, Defence Public Relations and Information said Thursday.
Major Yayah Brima made this disclosure at a press conference held at the Ministry of Defence in Freetown.
Captain Kamara was standing trial at the court martial with two other military officers — Samuel Conteh, Warrant Officer Class 1, 2nd accused; and Abu Bakarr Jalloh, Warrant Officer Class 2, 3rd accused — on five counts ranging from conspiracy to steal service property, larceny by servant, willfully damaging service property, willful neglect causing damage to service property and conduct that was prejudicial to the group order and military discipline, contrary to the RSLAF Act №34 of 1961 as amended. But before the verdict was handed down, Captain Kamara escaped from the military detention facility at Wilberforce in Freetown in the early hours of Tuesday May 21, 2019.
As a fugitive, Captain Kamara was sentenced on July 2, 2019, to 10 years imprisonment; the third accused person Warrant Officer Class II, Abu Bakarr Jalloh to three years in prison. The 2nd accused, Warrant Officer Class 1, Samuel Conteh was acquitted and discharged.
Fugitive Captain Kamara has been declared wanted. He is expected to serve his prison sentence whenever he is arrested.
Following his escape, a joint investigation by police and military was instituted and eight military personnel were arrested. They are: Major T.H Sandy (SL 1068), Major SN Luseni (SL 1172), RSLAF 18165090 Staff Sergeant William Kamara, RSLAF 18169779 Sergeant Tucker, RSLAF 18180047 Sergeant Sidia Turay, RSLAF 18182089 Lance Corporal Tamba Tengbeh, RSLAF 18182699 Lance Corporal Amara Kargbo and RSLAF 18182688 Lance Corporal Ishmail Simbo.
Major Brima said the following the investigations, the CID found seven military personnel liable for the offence except RSLAF 18169779 Sergeant Tucker, who was exonerated for lack of evidence.
He stated that in a report dated June 12, 2019 which was addressed to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice, the CID stated that while RSLAF 18180047 Sergeant Sidia Turay “facilitated the escape of Captain Kamara”, Major TH Sandy (SL 1068) and Major SN Luseni (SL 1172) “contributed, in a large measure, to the alleged escape of Captain Kamara by failing to ensure the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) at the Custodial Centre was strictly adhered to”.
“Hence, in a legal advice dated 2 July 2019, the DPP directed the RSLAF authorities to institute disciplinary actions against the military personnel in line with the RSLAF Regulations and Code of Conduct,” he said. “Accordingly, an administrative action was instituted in accordance with the RSLAF Misconduct Policy and appropriate disciplinary actions were taken against all the seven military personnel as follows: Major TH Sandy (SL 1068) — recommended for compulsory retirement subject to Defence Council approval; Major SN Luseni (SL 1172) — awarded two-year forfeiture of seniority and posted out of JPU; RSLAF 18165090 Staff Sergeant William Kamara — demoted to the rank of Corporal and posted out of JPU; RSLAF 18180047 Sergeant Sidia Turay — compulsorily discharged; RSLAF 18182699 Lance Corporal Amara Kargbo — awarded twenty-eight days imprisonment with hard labour and posted out of JPU; RSLAF 18182688 Lance Corporal Ishmail Simbo — awarded twenty-eight days imprisonment with hard labour and posted out of JPU; and RSLAF 18182089 Lance Corporal Tamba Tengbeh — exonerated for lack of evidence.