By Fatima Kpaka The first prosecution witness Lieutenant Colonel Bockarie Marrah has Monday 21st October 2024 testified in the ongoing Courtmartial trail against seven serving military personnel presided over by Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba and seven Board Members. The seven military personnel including Major Bai Sesay of 15th Bn, Staff Sergeant Joseph Conteh alias Boy pikin of 5 battalion, Sergeant Alimamy Conteh alias next man of JLU, Corporal Alpha Wurie Conteh pf 3rd Brigade, Lance corporal Ibrahim Kuyateh of Cockrill, Lance corporal Lahai Kemoh of 5Bn and Sergeant Baimba Bangura alais Maggie were all before the on 10 counts charges ranging from Commiting a civil offencw, Mutiny, Failure to Surpress mutiny, Communicating with the enemy, Desertion and Conduct to the prejudice of military displine all contrary to the Armed Forces Act of 1961. According to the indictments, all the accused persons on diverse dates between 21st to 26th November 2023, in Freetown, being subject to military law, conspired together and with other persons unknown to take part i. mutiny involving the used of violence to overthrow the government of Sierra Leone. The first prosecution witness Lieutenant Colonel Bockarie Marrah led in further evidence by state counsel Joseph AK Sesay said he is the commanding officer of Armed Forces Personnel Center (AFPC). He said his duties are to keep the records of all personnel and also manager the Arm forces payroll and has worked there for 3 years now. In further evidence said he recognized the first accused Major Bai Sesay of 15th Battalion as a colleague officer and the others as military personnels that were attacked to various unit. When he was asked by the state counsel as to whether he has records of all RSLAF Personell, he replied in the afirmative, adding that the records includes personal details of all the seven accused persons. The said records of Personell of the Arm forces were produced and tender respectively. After the tendering of the said documents page 2 of the exhibits titles details of accused persons were shown to the witness which he identified. The documents according to the witness contains details of the serving personnel including their service numbers given to personnel once enlisted into the Army, their salaries, their rank, their first names, given names and surnames, the unit attacked and the date of enlistment into the RSLAF. According to him, all the accused persons were absent from work since the November 26th 2023 failed coup without leave and a parade was led but they could not be found and so a board was constituted against the accused persons and thereafter were subsequently dismissed He said there was no rejoined message from the 6th accused and so he was dismissed grom the RSLAF on 21st January 2024 after a board of inquiry was set against him, same for the 7th accused Sergeant Baimba Bangura. He added that if a Personell is to be redeployed to another unit it will reflect on his records During cross examination of the witness by lawyer Ibrahim Bangura from Legal Aid Board on behalf of the 1st, 2nd,3rd,4th, 5th and 7th accused asked the witness if he understands his duties, the witness said yes. When asked that whiles testifying he made mentioned of the service numbers of the accused and if one could have two service number, the witness in his replied said it is impossible for a soldier to have two service numbers. Lawyer Bangura put it to the witness that he made mentioned of errors on the documents, the witness in reply said it was during the printing and any other numbers apart from those he read will be incorrect . Lawyer Chernor Kamara in his cross examination of the witness on behalf of the 6th accused Lance Corporal Lahai Kemoh confronted the witness that a board of enquiry was conveyed and he said yes but he was not part of the. board but after which the decision was communicated to him by a correspondent. When he was asked as to the AWOL procedures, the witness said after 3 to 7 days they will search for the accused in his area and talk to witnesses and thereafter on the 21st day the board will seat and come out with a decision . When he was question as to whether he has records that the 6th accused received salary since December 2023 to January 2024 when he was dismissed, the witness said he has records of that but it is not with him in court but said if given time will come with it on the next adjourned date together with the board of inquiry report. Defense counsel however applied for a deferment of cross examination of the witness in order for him to bring the records of payment to the 6th accused from December 2023 to January 2024 and the BOI reports as to his dismissal. His application was granted and the matter was adjourned to the Tomorrow 22nd October 2024 for further hearing whiles the accused persons were remanded in prison.