GIBRILLA KAMARA PAYS COCAINE DEFENSE TEAM BILLS

S E C R E T FREETOWN 000023

SIPDIS
NOFORN

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W (JHUNTER)
EMBASSY BRUSSELS FOR DEA (TSCARANTINO)
CONSULATE LAGOS FOR DEA (SGAYE)
DOJ FOR DEA/OS/OSE (MCMANAMON/LENARTOWICZ)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2019
TAGS: PREL SNAR PINR SL
SUBJECT: GIBRILLA KAMARA PAYS COCAINE DEFENSE TEAM BILLS

Classified By: CDA Glenn Fedzer for reasons 1/4 (b/d)


1. (S/REL UK) A source from the cocaine defense team
disclosed on January 15 that two members of the legal team
met with Gibrilla Kamara (aka GK) in Conakry prior to the
Guinean coup in December, 2008. The source initially stated
that GK was contacted to provide case-related information,
but later admitted that GK was actually contacted for money.
The foreign accused have apparently had great difficulty
paying their legal fees; defense lawyers initially demanded
$200K, but following negotiations accepted $68K for the
entire international group. GK allegedly paid part of this
amount, though the source intimated that contact will be made
with him again soon for another payment. The defense team has
been out of touch with GK since the December 23 coup, but now
seem to feel more comfortable reaching out to him and
potentially traveling back to Guinea. It is also possible
that GK's wife, who is now reported by a reliable Sierra
Leone Police source to have returned to the Freetown area,
will assist with payments.


2. (S/REL UK) The lawyers that reportedly interviewed GK say
he revealed that he was not the lynch-pin of the July drug
run, but instead Mohamed Sesay (aka Ahmed Sesay) was put in
charge of that particular operation. Sesay was given $1
million in U.S. currency to make the appropriate bribes, as
well as a vehicle with which to gift the President and deepen
the bond of friendship they already share (Note: President
Koroma is a long-time friend of Ibrahim Kemoh Sesay,
suspended Minister of Transportation, and his cousin Mohamed.
The Sesays assisted in bankrolling Koroma's successful 2007
Presidential bid. End note.). Sesay did not follow directions
well, according to GK, only doling out a few hundred dollars
in bribes and keeping the vehicle for his own use. He was
allegedly criticized by his superiors in the cartel for his
handling of the vehicle and ordered to give it to Koroma in
the weeks prior to the bust, however, the source could not
confirm if Koroma ever received it.


3. (S/REL UK) Speaking more generally about the trial, the
source stated his frustration with the perceived bias of
Justice Browne-Marke in support of the prosecution. He feels
that Browne-Marke is holding the defense to a higher standard
than the prosecution, though Browne-Marke's decisions to date
do not necessarily reflect this. He mentioned in particular
the difficulty the legal team is having defending Alimamy
Kabia, the former Office of National Security officer who was
placed as a mole within the criminal organization and
allegedly became a double agent for the narcotraffickers. The
defense want to call Abdullai Mustapha, head of the Central
Intelligence and Security Unit, as a witness, but this
request was denied by Browne-Marke because of Mustapha's
intelligence role. Kabia implicated both Kemoh Sesay and Vice
President Samsumana from the witness stand on January 14.
Browne-Marke warned Kabia that he should not implicate anyone
not facing charges. GK was also reportedly vocal about Kemoh
Sesay's involvement in his meeting with the attorneys.


4. (S/NF) Comment: The source provided the information to
Emboff willingly, but was clearly uncomfortable discussing
the defense team's interaction with GK. As the case develops,
it is becoming increasingly obvious that GK has the financial
resources and intent to influence the outcome of the trial.
The longer the trial goes on, the higher the risk that the
traffickers will escape justice. If GK is to be believed,
Mohamed Sesay was the weak link in the Sierra Leonean branch
of the criminal organization, and is likely now taking the
fall for Kemoh Sesay and others. Whether or not
narcotraffickers maintain or increase their links with Kemoh
Sesay remains to be seen, but post strongly believes that
they will try to find other means and contacts to continue
their operations here. End comment.
FEDZER