By Fatima Kpaka
Sergeant Michael Sankoh, the 14th Prosecution Witness in the ongoing Court Martial following the November 26th failed overthrow, has yesterday admitted before Judge Advocate Mark Ngegba and Board Members that he made a mistake on the statement of the first accused, Staff Sergeant Alhaji Koroma.
The witness informed the court about it during cross-examination by Lawyer Ibrahim Bah from Legal Aid Board, who represents the first accused.
The witness said he had been an investigator for over 10 years, and was part of the investigating process in relation to the first accused person, who had earlier pleaded guilty to few of the charges.
The witness established to the court that he didn’t recall the exact date the first accused was apprehended but as an investigator, he took statement from him on the 28th and 29th of November 2023.
After being asked by Lawyer Bangura, if he made a mistake on the statement of the first accused, the witness was quick to answer in the affirmative, but did not say whether the particular mistake was in relation to the date or something else.
In another development, the 16th accused person told the court about his present condition.
According to him, he doesn’t have any relative in Freetown as he came all the way from Kamakwie. He went on to state that he has nobody to turn as his suffering from poor health on a daily basis intensifies.
He also told the court that his salary had not been forthcoming, which had worsened his situation and made things unbearable for him.
His Lawyer, also called on the attention of the Judge Advocate to give the necessary orders especially on the issues of his welfare and health.
While responding to those issues, one of the lawyers for the State, Colonel M.B.Kamara confirmed that the accused’s wife lives in Tambakha, and promised that they would try to organize for her to visit him.
In relation to the accused’s welfare, the prosecution said that they will be investigated, as the other accused were then receiving theirs after same had been raised by them.
Lawyer Koffie also cross examined the witness on behalf of the 16th accused, followed by other Lawyers.