Secret intelligence agents involved in undercover investigations for the security of the country yesterday testified in a closed session in the ongoing cocaine trial before Justice Nicolas Brown Marke.
The closed session was announced by the trial Judge after the Director of public prosecution; Oladipo Robin Mason informed the court that he wished to take three new witnesses.
The judge immediately ordered everyone to leave the court room including security personnel and journalists leaving only the defence lawyers and prosecution.
The Master and Registrar of the High Court Elvin W Bailor explained to Awoko that the secret agents needed to be protected and stated that in England when such witnesses were testifying they will not ask people to go out but have a way of doing it where in nobody will see the witness but rather hear their voices.
He also stated that in Sierra Leone such facilities were lacking in the courts a cause why everybody was asked outside.
The official referred to the witnesses as secret intelligence agents for the country who are involved in undercover investigations for the security of the country “It will be risky for their profession, lives and the security of this country if their profession is exposed to the public”. After the court session was opened to the public, Lawyer Crispin Fio Edwards representing the 1st accused George Arizabel Archilla cross examined Claude Brima on how many of them were at the scene during the investigation.
His answer was that there were four of them but he challenged the witness that some British personnel were working alongside them together with some CID officers. The witness agreed and Lawyer James Fonnah Sesay representing the second accused also challenged the witness that he had said it was a box that was in the plane but according to the interpreter he said it was cocaine.
By Emmanuella Kallon
ADVERTISEMENT