A military court in Sierra Leone sentenced 24 soldiers to lengthy prison terms for their part in a failed attempt to overthrow the government of President Julius Maada Bio last November, according to African media.
The sentences were read out in the court on late Friday night, with the judge ordering the convicts to undergo prison terms ranging from 50 to 120 years.
They were among 27 people tried before a military court for their involvement in the 26 November coup attempt. Fighters attacked a military barracks, two prisons, and other facilities that day, releasing some 2,200 prisoners and killing more than 20 people.
The judgement followed the imprisonment in July of 11 civilians, as well as police and prison officials, for their role in the insurrection. A seven-member military jury found most of the court-martialled soldiers guilty in a unanimous verdict after hours of deliberations. The men faced a total of 88 charges, including mutiny, murder, aiding the enemy, and stealing public or service property.
All but one of those prosecuted were ordinary soldiers. The lieutenant colonel was found guilty and received the longest prison sentence of 120 years. Before passing judgement, Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba, a former military officer, stated that “when we reach this conclusion for sentences it is to send a message of zero tolerance for such an act in the military.”
Of the remaining three, one was found not guilty, another was sentenced earlier on a guilty plea, while the trial of the third would conclude at a later date.
The failed attempt followed the election, in which President Bio won by a narrow margin and secured re-election for a second term. The main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) Party contested his victory, with some local and international observers also questioning the transparency of the vote.
