I am standing trial to protect my liberty-Ousainou Darboe

 

Mafugi Ceesay

The detained opposition United Democratic Party leader, and Secretary General, OusainouDarboe has told the High Court Presided over by Justice EO Dada that: “I am standing trial to protect my liberty

According to Justice E.O Dada the accused persons did not have any objections.Darboe Quickly Interrupted and said that they were silent but did not give any answers but doesn’t mean they don’t object and for the trial judge to said that they have no objections is wrong and that the judge would not want him to file an affidavit against her.

However, Mr. Darboe has being tried along with nineteen others comprised of his party militants and some top executive members have proceeded Monday June 20, 2016 at the High Court in Banjul

Meanwhile Darboe’s statement came following Fatoumata A Bah aState witness who obtained  cautionary and voluntary statementsfrom Mr.Darboe, was recalled after she was discharged without the court asking Darboe, KemesengJammeh, Yaya Bah and NfamaraKuyateh whether they have any question for her before she was discharged from the witness box.

When she was recalled, Mr.Darboe told the court that the witness was threatened and he did not know under which authority the witness was recalled.

Asked by the judge whether he has any question for the witness, Darboe responded: “I am standing trial to protect my liberty and I challenge the court under which authority this witness was recalled for cross-examination after she has given her evidence and was discharged.”

Four prosecution witnesses have so far testified yesterday all of whom were all police officers making a total prosecution witness nine since the commencement of the hearing  in the matter last week.

Fatoumata A Bah a police officer attached at the fraud squad explained to the court that she was assigned by her boss to record the cautionary and voluntary statements of OusainouDarboe, KemesengJammeh, Yaya Bah and NfamaraKuyateh.

Lamin N Jammeh also a police officer attached at the same unit recalled that he was assigned to record the cautionary and voluntary statements of MasannehLaloJawla who was detained at the NIA headquarters at the time, while the eight prosecution witness, Omar K Jammeh a police Constable confirmed also confirmed to the court that he obtained the statements of Momodou LK Sanneh and YayaJammeh.

Next to testify as the state ninth witness was DodouJoof also a police officer attached at the Fraud Squad told the presiding judge, Justice O Dada that he recorded the statement of LaminDibba and BabucarrCamara.

All the statements were admitted as exhibits but prior to the admissibility of their statements the court asked accused persons whether they have any objection but they all remained silence and the documents were admitted as exhibits.

Hearing resumes Tuesday June 21, 2016.