Bodyguard Of Former S. Leone Leader Jailed Over Failed Coup

A former bodyguard to the former president of Sierra Leone Ernest Bai Koroma was found guilty of treason and sentenced along with ten others for a failed coup last year.

Amadu Koita Makalo, also a former soldier, was sentenced to 182 years in prison for treason, murder and shooting with intent to commit murder.

The charges followed attacks by gunmen on a military barracks and prisons in November last year.

This came just months after a controversial election in which President Julius Maada Bio was narrowly re-elected for a second term.

More than 2,000 prisoners were freed and at least 20 people were killed before the government regained power. The attack was seen as an attempt to overthrow the government.

Makalo, who had a large following on social media where he criticized the government, was accused of being one of the organizers of the coup.

During the sentencing on Monday, a judge noted that the former presidential bodyguard had shown no remorse during the trial, local newspaper Awoko reported.

“The purpose of this sentence is to scare people and let them know that coups or attempted coups to overthrow a legitimate government will no longer be accepted,” Komba Kamanda was quoted as saying.

According to the report, Makalo’s co-defendants received prison sentences ranging from 39 to 182 years.

A court spokesman declined to tell AFP how long the prison sentences would be, saying the court document had not yet been stamped and signed.

At least 80 people have been arrested in connection with the incident, mostly military personnel.

In January, twelve people, including former police officers, were charged with treason and other crimes.

That same month, Mr Koroma, who ruled Sierra Leone for 11 years until 2018, was charged with treason in connection with the attempted coup. He denied the charges.

The former president was granted permission travel to Nigeria on medical grounds, despite the accusations.

A court has allowed him to stay away for up to three months, but he has not yet returned to Sierra Leone.