In conclusion yesterday addressing the Jury, Dr Abdulai Conteh said this: “Mr Foreman, members of the jury, we urge and pray that in this trial you will reject the prosecution’s case of treason against the 1st Accused for a woeful lack of evidence and on the offences under the Small Arms Ammunition Acts, for lack of any supporting evidence, a burden which the prosecution carries.

Although the Jury went on to find Palo Conteh guilty on two counts of unlawful gun possession, in what appears to be a highly politically motivated case that many in Sierra Leone and abroad felt should never have taken this long to conclude, today’s verdict must have dealt a heavy blow on the confidence and integrity of the government’s law officers, who were hell bent on seeing that Palo Conteh is found guilty of treason to face execution.

The 1st Accused, Alfred Palo Conteh, stands charged on the indictment before you with three counts of treason, seven counts of offences against the Small Arms and Ammunition Act, 2012 and three counts of perjury contrary to the Perjury Act, 1911.

Again, his lordship will at the appropriate stage explain the law of treason to you, but we say on behalf of the 1st Accused to you, members of the jury, treason as it is understood and prosecuted in this country has never been an undertaking or endeavour or attempt by one person.

Members of the jury, we all know that on the 29th of April, 1992 Treason made its masterpiece for the first time in this country when a section of the army led by some junior officers overthrew the then lawfully constituted government; and from this Mr. Fisher suggested that the 1st Accused had a motive for now wanting to upset the government of President Bio.

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