By Saidu Jalloh, Reporter, D.S.
Five individuals, including a teacher and a human resource officer, have been remanded in custody in Freetown over an alleged plot to assassinate Madam Musayaroh Barrie, the Director General of the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA).
According to Awoko, the accused—Albert Sheriff Soloku (43, teacher), Foday Turay (33, businessman), Musa Kamara (32, unemployed), Augustine Rashid Kelfal Josiah (45, Human Resource Coordinator), and Kadiatu Kamara (44, unemployed)—appeared before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Court No. 2 on Pademba Road. They face one count of attempted murder.
Police reports indicate that the alleged incident occurred on April 18, 2025, in Freetown. The prosecution alleges that the accused conspired to assassinate Madam Barrie and disrupt operations at the Freetown International Airport in Lungi.
During the court proceedings, the accused did not enter any pleas. Commissioner of Police (CP) Joan Bull, leading the prosecution, called Madam Barrie as the first witness. In her testimony, Barrie identified all five accused as former colleagues from a ministry where she had previously served as Minister.
Barrie informed the court that she received intelligence via social media, indicating that the accused, along with unidentified individuals, were plotting her assassination and planning to sabotage airport operations. She stated that the audio and video messages she received caused her to fear for her life and the security of the airport.
As part of her testimony, Madam Barrie confirmed that she had submitted the digital evidence to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and presented it in court, assuring that she would provide further material if required. Following her testimony, CSP Bull requested the court to allow an Information Technology (IT) specialist to be present at the next hearing to facilitate the playback of the audio evidence.
Defense counsel Madieu Sesay renewed a previous bail application for the accused; however, Magistrate Fornah denied the request, citing the gravity of the offense. He ordered that the accused be remanded at the Male and Female Correctional Centres in Freetown.
The matter has been adjourned to tomorrow.
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