Sierra Leone IGP says former President Koroma now a suspect

By Abubakar Hashim/Freetown

At Tuesday’s press conference, the Inspector General of Police, IGP William Fayia Sellu, confirmed that former President Ernest Bai Koroma is now a suspect in the ongoing investigations over the Nov. 26 coup attempt in Sierra Leone, with 79 other suspects also in Police net.

Breakdown of suspects according to the IGP: 50 Serving Military Officers; 5 Dismissed Military Officers; 7 Serving Police Officers; 1 Retired Police Officer; 15 Civilians; 1 Correctional Officer, and Ernest Bai Koroma. Total number of suspects is 80.

The IGP confirmed that the former President had all along been treated with full respect, dignity and decorum befitting his status as a former President.

Each day, after interrogation, he is granted bail on self-recognition to his private property at Goderich, on government-supported security escort.

His house is also fully protected by government security, not by the security at his permanent residence at Makeni, from where he was invited last Thursday for interrogation.

The other 79 suspects are detained in various cells in Freetown.

The IGP also revealed that the former President travelled to Freetown on the same day on Thursday when he received the invitation as it was 24 hours in duration.

The IGP, Sellu, replaced former IGP Sevula on July 27, 2022.