A military court in Sierra Leone sentenced 24 soldiers to long years in prison for their role in a failed attempt to overthrow the government of President Julius Maada Bio last November, Reuters reported.
The sentences were read out in court late last night, with all those convicted receiving sentences ranging from 50 to 120 years in prison.
The convicts are among 27 accused facing a military court for their part in the November 26 coup attempt, in which gunmen attacked barracks, prisons and other facilities, freeing some 2,200 prisoners and killing more than 20 people.
The sentences followed the detention in July of 11 civilians, as well as police and prison officials, for their roles in the riot.
The seven-member jury unanimously found the majority of the accused soldiers guilty after hours of deliberation. They have been charged with a total of 88 charges, including rioting, murder and theft of public or official property.
All the accused, except one, are regular soldiers. The only officer among the convicts, who has the rank of lieutenant colonel, received the longest sentence of 120 years.
Before handing down the sentences, Judge Mark Ngegba, who is a former officer, said they sent a “zero tolerance message for such acts in the armed forces”.
Of the remaining three, one was acquitted, a second was convicted earlier because he confessed, and the trial of the third will end at a later date.
The failed coup attempt came after an election that President Bio won by a narrow margin, enough to give him a second term. His victory was disputed by the main opposition party “National Congress”, and some local and international observers also questioned the transparency of the vote.