Following the outcome of the investigations on the matter, Major T. H. Sandy (SL 1068) has been recommended for compulsory retirement subject to Defence Council approval; Major S. N. Luseni (SL 1172), awarded two-year forfeiture of seniority and posted out of JPU, RSLAF 18165090 Staff Sergeant William Kamara – demoted to the rank of Corporal and posted out of JPU, RSLAF 18180047 Sergeant Sidia Turay – compulsorily discharged, RSLAF 18182699 Lance Corporal Amara Kargbo – awarded twenty-eight days imprisonment with hard labour and posted out of JPU and RSLAF 18182688 Lance Corporal Ishmail Simbo – awarded twenty-eight days imprisonment with hard labour and posted out of JPU, whiles RSLAF 18182089 Lance Corporal Tamba Tengbeh has been exonerated for lack of evidence.
It can be recalled that in the early hours of Tuesday, 21st May, 2019, Captain Patrick Kamara, who was being tried in Court Martial along with two others for various offences relating to missing ammunition, escaped from the Military Custodial Centre at Wilberforce Barracks in Freetown.
Subsequently, eight military personnel were arrested and investigated by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for the offence of “negligently permitting the alleged escape of a prisoner”.
The eight military personnel included Major T. H. Sandy (SL 1068), Major S. N. Luseni (SL 1172), RSLAF 18165090 Staff Sergeant William Kamara, RSLAF 18169779 Sergeant Tucker, RSLAF 18180047 Sergeant Sidia Turay, RSLAF 18182089 Lance Corporal Tamba Tengbeh, RSLAF 18182699 Lance Corporal Amara Kargbo and RSLAF 18182688 Lance Corporal Ishmail Simbo respectively.
Following the investigations, the CID found the seven military personnel liable for the offence except RSLAF 18169779 Sergeant Tucker, who was exonerated for lack of evidence.
In a report dated 12th June, 2019 and addressed to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice, the CID stated that while RSLAF 18180047 Sergeant Sidia Turay “facilitated the escape of Captain Kamara”, Major T. H. Sandy (SL 1068) and Major S. N. Luseni (SL 1172) “contributed, in a large measure, to the alleged escape of Captain Kamara by failing to ensure the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) at the Custodial Centre was strictly adhered to”.
Hence, in a legal advice dated 2nd July 2019, the DPP directed the RSLAF authorities to institute disciplinary actions against the military personnel in line with the RSLAF Regulations and Code of Conduct.
