Following four days of deliberations, a 12 member jury in Freetown returned verdicts of guilty on Wednesday against 16 of 21 defendants who were facing charges of treason and conspiracy for allegedly collaborating with the ousted AFRC military junta. Among those convicted were former President Joseph Saidu Momoh, who was found guilty on two counts of conspiracy. Momoh was found not guilty on four counts of treason, meaning that he will likely face a prison sentence. 13 other defendants were convicted on treason charges, which carry the death penalty. Those convicted on at least two charges were Ajbiola Emmanuel Manley-Spaine, Baila Leigh, Matilda King, David Bangura, Saidu Daniel Bangura, Hamid Abdul Kamara, John Tommy, Stephen Cathys Bio, Hassan Barrie, Victor Brandon, Sheik Abu Bakarr Nabie, Umaru Din-Sesay, Denis Kawuna Kamara, Abdul Salaami Williams, and Eben Victor Coker. Those acquitted were Rev. Victor Ajisafe, who was once quoted as saying he would throw away the Bible if President Kabbah returned to Sierra Leone, former RUF spokesman Gibril Massaquoi, Alhaji Ibrahim Kargbo, Winston Crowther, and Alpha Omega Bundu Sr. On a lighter note, President Kabbah has warned civil servants to stop accepting bribes in return for helping businesses to set up in Sierra Leone. In a nationwide radio and television broadcast in Krio late Tuesday, Kabbah said corruption was one of the major problems hindering the country's development. "If we manage our affairs properly, government will be able to divert enough resources into the social welfare sector , providing better health facilities and other reforms," he said. Kabbah told officials to end their corruption and to stop squandering state resources. "Let me also caution you Sierra Leoneans who have been depriving both foreign and local business people who want to establish businesses in Sierra Leone," he said. He added his warning was addressed in particular to "civil servants who have the habit of receiving a bribe before work is done." It should be remembered that the government of former president Momoh, now found guilty of conspiracy, passed an anti-corruption legislation which carried heavy fines and prison terms in 1988. It failed woefully. What makes president Kabba think that mere verbal request/caution would work this time? Ghanaian president Rawlings' example with people like Afrifa and others during his first term should not be a bad idea after all. Remember: "Evil triumphs when a few good men do nothing."