Guinea: Six officers linked with plot to oust president freed

There was joy in a Conakry courtroom when the judge freed six military officers alleged to have plotted a coup to oust President Alpha Condé.

Among the six officers was Guinea’s former army chief, General Nouhou Thiam who was also linked to the case.

They were arrested and detained in 2011 after attacking the president’s home.

“In reality, we already received a ruling against the state for arbitrary detention before the trial court…and the evidence brought forward showed they were detained in an arbitrary and abusive manner” said lawyer for the accused persons.

“We have to try to repair the damage caused to these gentlemen, who have been held beyond the legally permitted period” another lawyer said.

Their trial process began in 2014 and the six were sentenced for dereliction of duty.

Alpha Oumar Diallo and Jean Guilavogui were sentenced in 2013 to life imprisonment while eight other defendants got a prison term of between 2 and 15 years.