KEY MESSAGE ON THE ESCAPE OF CAPTAIN PATRICK EDWIN KAMARA FROM THE MILITARY CUSTODIAL CENTRE AT WILBERFORCE BARRACKS
22 MAY 2019, ISSUE NO. 1
1. The MoD/RSLAF would like to inform the public that Captain Patrick Edwin Kamara, who was being tried in Court Martial along with two others for various offences relating to arms and ammunition, has escaped from the military Custodial Centre at Wilberforce Barracks in Freetown. Captain Kamara is believed to have escaped in the early hours of Tuesday, 21 May 2019.
2. The MoD/RSLAF would like the public to know that the five soldiers, who were the security guards at the Custodial Centre, have been arrested. These soldiers are currently being investigated by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in connection with the circumstances leading to Captain Kamara’s escape. Meanwhile, all efforts are being made to re-arrest the escapee military officer.
3. The MoD/RSLAF would also like the public to know that Captain Kamara’s escape came a day after the Court Martial trial was adjourned on the request of the Defence Team. Both the Defence and the Prosecution would have made their final submissions yesterday if the trial had not been adjourned.
4. Meanwhile, the MoD/RSLAF would further like the public to know that the two other accused persons in the Court Martial trial, namely, Warrant Officer Class 1 Samuel Conteh and Warrant Officer Class 2 Abu Bakarr Jalloh are still remanded at the Custodial Centre.
5. More importantly, the MoD/RSLAF would also like to inform the public that the TWIN PARTNER of fugitive Captain Kamara COINCIDENTALLY passed away yesterday at Makoth, seven miles off Yonibana near Mile 91 after a long illness. The deceased, Michael Kamara, had first been admitted at the Chinese Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control Centre at the 34 Military Hospital before he was later moved to the village for native treatment, where he died.
6. Following yesterday’s coincidences, the MoD/RSLAF has followed some misleading and inaccurate story purporting that Captain Kamara has died in detention. The writer is believed have deliberately mistaken the death of Michael Kamara for the fugitive Captain Kamara.
7. Meanwhile, the MoD/RSLAF would further like the public to know that the remains of Michael Kamara was conveyed to Freetown last night by deceased’s wife, Captain Alice Koria Sesay, who is also a serving military officer. The public may contact the bereaved wife through her phone number: +232 77 390 214.
For further inquiry, please contact the following:
1. Brigadier General Alhassan Bangura
Defence Spokesman/Assistant Chief of Defence Staff, Defence Public Relations and Information
Phone/WhatsApp: +232 76 625 673
2. Lieutenant Colonel Alex Elogima Massaquoi
Staff Officer Grade 1, Defence Public Relations and Information
Phone/WhatsApp: +232 76 956 323
3. Major Yayah Brima
Staff Officer Grade 2, Defence Public Relations and Information
Phone/WhatsApp: +232 78 452 876
