By: Saidu Jalloh
In a significant development in the court martial trial of six military personnel implicated in a failed coup attempt on November 26, 2023, Lieutenant Colonel Bockarie Marrah, the first prosecution witness and commanding officer at the Armed Forces Personnel Centre (AFPC), provided crucial testimony in court.
Lieutenant Colonel Marrah, who oversees the records and payroll of military personnel, confirmed the identities of the accused as registered members of the armed forces, presenting documentation that included their names, ranks, addresses, and service dates. These records were formally submitted as evidence and marked as Exhibits A1-8. The trial took a dramatic turn when the sixth accused, reportedly in poor health, was observed lying on the floor during proceedings. Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba intervened, instructing the accused to stand to ensure the trial could proceed without interruption.
During his testimony, Lieutenant Marrah stated that the six accused had been deployed to various military units but had left their posts without authorization between July 29, 2023, and December 27, 2023. After the personnel had been absent for 21 days, he initiated a Board of Inquiry (BOI) to investigate the circumstances surrounding their unauthorized absence. The BOI ultimately recommended that the accused be discharged from the military.
As a result, the first five accused were discharged on January 31, 2024, while the sixth was discharged on the day of the coup attempt. Lieutenant Marrah clarified that he did not have the authority to unilaterally discharge personnel but acted based on orders he received. The discharge order was presented in court as Exhibits B1-2.
The testimony continued with defense counsel Ibrahim Macfoy, representing the first accused, cross-examining Lieutenant Marrah. The witness explained the protocol for military personnel who are arrested and detained, confirming that the first accused’s salary had been halted on November 26, 2023, coinciding with the day he received the discharge authority. However, he noted that the first accused should have continued to receive payment up to that date.
Lieutenant Marrah also testified that the first accused had not been part of the military before June 20, 2024, and he was unaware of the accused’s detention since July 29, 2023. The first accused had been deployed to the 43rd Battalion in Pujehun District prior to his discharge. Addressing the third accused, Lieutenant Marrah confirmed he had received communication regarding the reasons for the discharge but had no documentation of the third accused attending a program in Tanzania. He stated it was not his responsibility to inform the accused about their discharge status, nor was he aware of how that information had been communicated. He further emphasized that a dishonorable discharge does not entitle an individual to receive a discharge certificate.
Following the cross-examinations, Judge Advocate Ngegba remanded the accused and adjourned the case to continue on October 23, 2024. This testimony marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing proceedings as the court seeks to establish accountability for the alleged coup attempt and the actions of the military personnel involved.
