Alleged Plot to Murder Government Official: Five Suspects Held in Custody

Five individuals have been charged with conspiring to murder MusaYerroh Barrie, the Director General of the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority. Their court hearing on Tuesday concluded with an adjournment, and they remain in custody.

The accused appeared before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 on Tuesday, June 24th, 2025.

The defendants, named as Albert Sheriff Soloku, Foday Turay, Musa Kamara, Augustine Rashid Kelfal Josiah, and Kadiatu Kamara, are charged with a single count of proposing to murder, in violation of Section 4 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861.

According to the police charge sheet, the alleged conspiracy occurred on Friday, April 18th, 2025, in Freetown, following the complainant's receipt of a threatening audio recording.

The court session included testimony from Detective Police Constable Alie Kamara of the Criminal Investigation Department, who was cross-examined by defense counsel Maddieu Sesay.

The defense tried to determine the authenticity of the alleged audio which seems to be a key evidence for the complainant, and how it was obtained.

During cross-examination, the defense questioned whether the witness, Alie Kamara of the Criminal Investigation Department, had knowledge of how the complainant obtained the threatening audio recordings. Detective Kamara replied that he did not and stated that he had submitted the audio evidence for laboratory analysis. He also confirmed that the complainant lacks expertise in voice analysis.

Defense counsel Sesay requested an adjournment to continue cross-examination and reiterated their bail application for the accused, which the magistrate denied.

The case is adjourned until July 1st for further proceedings.