Lawyer representing Ernest Bai Koroma in the alleged Treason charges has vowed to defend the Former President Koroma to the last in order to save his reputational damaged caused against his person.
“it is unfortunate and regrettably for this nation that we shall drag a Former President on charges of this nature”, he said, asserting that this is a case they will fight vigorously to prove the Former President innocent.
“Matter of this nature is a reputational damage and we’ll continue to fight to prove the former President innocent”, he maintained, further revealing that for the past 48 hours of the Former President interrogation at CID, nothing incriminated has been posed to him other than asking him the question that if he knows Koita and others, which the former President replied that they are people that worked for him.
“I have spent more than 48 hours at CID and haven’t seen any evidence that implicate the Former President to involve in the November 26 Security breach… When You take person like the Former President Koroma to Court, you must have irrefutable evidence to prove your case… This is a dangerous precedent that has been set”, JFK asserts.
He concluded by expressing his fear on the ongoing situation and appealing for peace to reign in this country.
It could be recalled that on January 3rd, the Former President Koroma appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Magistrate Court on various charges including treason, misprision of treason, and harbouring, stemming from his alleged involvement in the attempted government overthrow on November 26, 2023.
The charges were formally presented before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road’s Magistrate’s Court No.2.
Due to jurisdictional constraints, an immediate application for bail was submitted in the High Court on behalf of the Former President.
Justice Samuel O. Taylor presided over the bail hearing and ultimately granted bail to the Former President on stringent conditions:
1. A maximum of 10 people, comprising his immediate family, legal counsel, and select members of his political party, are permitted at his residence at any given time.
2. Dr. Koroma is strictly prohibited from leaving his house without explicit permission from the Inspector-General of Police.
3. Only the National Chairman and National Deputy Chairman of his political party are allowed to visit him.
4. All visits to his residence must receive prior authorization from the Inspector-General of Police.
5. To secure bail, Dr. Koroma must provide two senior citizen sureties residing in Sierra Leone’s Western Area.
The case was adjourned to 17th January 2024, awaiting the state’s preparedness to present its witnesses.
