PW 11 testifies in Darboe& co trial

Mafugi Ceesay

The trial of the detained opposition United Democratic Party leader, and Secretary General, OusainouDarboe who is being tried along with nineteen others comprised of party supporters and some top executive members have proceeded before Justice E.O Dada on Tuesday June 21, 2016 with the testimony of prosecution witness 11 at the High Court in Banjul.

Two prosecution witnesses have so far testified onJune 21, 2016 all of whom were all police officers making a total prosecution witness tensince the commencement of the hearing in the matter last week.

Saikou B Bojang a first class police officer attached at the Banjul Police Headquarters explained to the court that he was assigned by his boss to record the cautionary and voluntary statements of Lamin Jatta who was then detained at the Kanifing Police Intervention Unit Headquarters.

According to him, before the cautionary and voluntary statements from Mr. Jatta he first read out the cautionary wording to him and Lamin affirmed to it that it was correct. At this point his statements were shown to him and He said he recognized his cautionary and voluntary statement he recorded from Mr. Jatta through his signature and handwritings.

The said cautionary and voluntary statements obtained from Lamin Jatta were taken to him and asked if he has any question to cross examined the ten prosecution witness he kept quiet and said nothing.

Justice Dada ruled that in the absence of any objection from the side of the accused person, the court will admitted and marked the cautionary and voluntary as exhibits 18 A and B.

At this point the director of public prosecution, Saleh Hadi Barkun, applied for the ten Sate witness to be discharge in absence of no cross-examination emanating from the accused person, whilst also applied for a fifteen minutes stand-down of the case to allow his eleventh state witness to reach the court, without wasting anytime his application was granted by Justice Dada.

When the case resumed from the fifteen minutes stand-down Sajo Bah, a resident of Brikama Jalangba and also a police officer attached to the Serious Crime unit in Banjul Police Headquarters recalled that he was assigned to record the cautionary and voluntary statements of Fakebba Colley, Momodou Fatty, Dodou Ceesay and Juguna Suso whom were also detained at the Police Intervention Unit’s headquarters at the time,

Mr. Bah confirmed to the court he recognized some of the accused persons, as he was asked by DPP Barkun to cash his mind back on April 16, 2016 protest incidence he said on this particular day whilst he was at work he was asked by his boss to go to the Kanifing PIU Headquarters to obtained cautionary and voluntary statements the said accused persons.

According to him prior to took statement from these four, they were shown to him one after the other which followed by him obtaining a cautionary and voluntary statement from each of the four people. He told the court that he also read the two statements in Mandinka language to the understanding of each of the accused persons.

He also said the accused person confirmed it and that some of them sign, whiles other thumb printed their two statements.

At this juncture he was asked if could identify these statements if given to him, he replied in  affirmative, then was handed the said statements after perusing over it, he confirmed that they were the said statements as they carries his signatures

A cautionary and voluntary statements were admitted as exhibits 19 A and B, with the name of Fakebba Colley whilst Momodou Fatty as 20 A and B, Dodou Ceesay as 21 A and B, and Juguna Suso as 22 A and B.

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