On Monday 1st June 2020, Defence counsel representing Rtd. Major Alfred Palo Conteh, Joseph F. Kamara applied for the court to sit “in camera” with the exclusion of the gallery to view footage of the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) at State House during Palo’s visit.
Prosecuting Counsel, Lawyer Adrian Fisher objected to the defence application, stating that such issue attracts national security concerns and the security that surrounds the president should not be discussed in public or in private. Lawyer Kamara responded that if the defence cannot have the CCTV footage then there is no treason charge against his client.
“We don’t want to know who visits state house, what we want to know is when the first accused entered state house. Let them don’t hide on national security,” he argued.
Justice Momo- Jah Steven ruled that if the office of the Presidency wants to present the footage it is fine, but he cannot compel the office of the president to do so because section 48 sub section 4 of the national constitution states that you cannot bring court action against the office of the president.
While testifying as seventh prosecution witness in the ongoing Treason Trial against Palo Conteh and two others, Lieutenant Colonel Mohamed Moriba Kposowa, Director of Security and Head of Presidential Guard at State House told the court that the ground floor has a Close Circuit Television (CCTV) system but based on national security reasons he cannot discuss State House surveillance system in an open court.
Dressed in his military combat uniform, looking calm in a soft voice Kposowa explained that he was on duty on 19th March 2020 at his office, and after giving security instructions during the morning hours he received a call from one Captain Angel informing him about what has happened on the ground floor and upon receiving the said information he went downstairs to the reception to find out more.
Kposowa on his arrival at the reception said he spoke with Sergeant Gaima who explained to him in detail, what had transpired at the reception. He said what Gaima explained to him became a security concern and he decided to call the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Kposowa said he took the CID officers to the office of the State Chief of Protocol at the second floor where Palo was seated with other people whot were invited for a meeting with the President.
“Upon entering, Palo shouted, Kposowa, I saluted him and said good morning sir”.
Colonel Kposowa said Palo confirmed that he is the owner of the brown bag and he informed Palo that he has been told by his securities that they caught him with a pistol in the brown bag and Palo also confirmed that he is the owner of the pistol, “but it is licensed.”
He said with the bag in his hand Palo put his hand in the side pocket of the brown bag and removed the gun license. Kposowa added that he later unzipped the bag and asked the first accused if he is the owner of the pistol, he said the first accused answered yes but insisted that it is licensed.
Kposowa said he handed over the pistol to his Chief Security Officer who unloaded it to see the content, and he realized that it had ten live rounds. Kposowa said he then handed over the Gluck 17 pistol to the CID officers who put it in safety mode- “I now informed everybody that Rtd. Major Palo is not going to be part of the meeting with the President for security reasons.
Meanwhile, I asked for him to be taken to a separate room and take his statement.” Kpossowa said he decided to invite the CID because he has been a personal staff to Palo so he wanted an independent body to intervene.
He said there was no live rounds in the chamber and in military terms it meant the weapon is not ready. The matter has been adjourned to Tuesday 2nd June 2020 for next hearing.
