By Foday Moriba Conteh
A former officer of the Sierra Leone Immigration Department, Salieu Bah is on the run, has fled the country, citing fears for his life after being falsely implicated in the failed coup attempt of November 26, 2023, against the government of Sierra Leone.
According to information by this reporter, Bah who before his allegations was an employee of Sierra’s Leone Immigration was responsible for processing passports applications and verifying documentation for those alleged to be the coup plotters. However, he has found himself at the center of politically sensitive investigation that he claims is based solely on fabricated allegations.
“My job was purely administrative,” he told this publication. “I verified documents and processed applications. I had no authority to approve or deny passports, and I certainly had no knowledge of any political affiliations of the applicants.”
Following the coup attempt, the government launched a sweeping crackdown, arresting dozens of individuals, including civil servants. On December 4, 2023, the former officer received a summons from the Immigration Department to appear before the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for questioning in a case described as a matter of “national security.”
He believes the summons was a prelude to wrongful arrest. “I started receiving threats and unannounced visits to my residence from security agents. I was told an arrest warrant had been issued against me. I had no involvement in any coup, yet I was being hunted.” Bah noted.
Prior to the November 26th coup, Bah was attending an international training course in abroad. Friends and family in Sierra Leone, witnessing the brutal arrests of other individuals alleged to be involved in the coup, which they urged Bah not to return home. “Their feared is being I would be detained, tortured, or forced to confess to something I know nothing about,” they said.
Report also confirmed that Bah apartment in Freetown was searched and ransacked by some individuals known to be SLPP loyalists and state security forces, manhandle his wife and daughters. “I was advised to stay away until the situation became clearer. If I had returned, I believe I would have been arrested and possibly subjected to torture or worse.” he stated.
Legal experts say the case may fall under the category of imputed political opinion, a recognized ground for asylum under international law. “When someone is persecuted based on perceived political alignment, even if that perception is false, it constitutes a serious human rights concern,” one expert noted.
The former officer says he has no faith in the justice system to provide a fair trial in politically sensitive cases, describing the process to be a state sponsored persecution. I am being targeted based on lies, and I fear for my life.”
As tensions remain high in Sierra Leone, the whereabouts of Bah remains unknown as well as his family as fears and panic forced them to abandon their original home.
