A seven-member jury convicted the soldiers on Friday, following an eight-month trial over a failed coup plot against President Julius Maada Bio in November.

At that time, dozens of gunmen broke into the national arsenal in Sierra Leone's capital and released more than 2,000 prisoners. The clashes left 18 security forces dead.

Authorities said they had arrested about 80 suspects and 12 people were charged in January, including former President Ernest Bai Koroma.

The soldiers convicted on Friday received varying prison terms, most of them for decades. The most senior officer, Lieutenant Colonel Charles James Mishek Yamba, was sentenced to 120 years in prison.

They have been charged with 88 crimes, including murder, rebellion, communicating with the enemy and wilful destruction of public and military property, among others.

Ha Trang (according to AP)