By Kemo Cham
Sierra Leone’s former leader Ernest Bai Koroma has been formally charged with treason, the government has announced.
President Koroma appeared in court today to answer to questions about his alleged involvement in the November 26 failed attempted coup, where he was slammed with four counts charges of treason, misprision of treason and two counts of harbouring, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education.
He appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Court No. 2 in Freetown, according to the statement.
The development comes a day after 12 other people were slammed with similar charges in connection to the failed attempted coup. They included Amadu Koita, the man described as one of the top masterminds of the failed coup and a former minister of youth under Koroma, Bai Mahmoud Bangura.
This brings to 13 the number of people so far indicted in the matter.
Wednesday’s development also comes after the government reportedly rejected a proposal by the West African bloc, ECOWAS for the former President to be sent into exile in Nigeria.
The government is yet to publicly comment on that proposal which is contained in a letter making rounds on social media and which is addressed to current President Julius Maada Bio.
