British national, Gambian accomplice trial continues

The criminal trial for indecent exposure of private parts involving a 64-year-old British national, one Edwin Arthur Levender, and his alleged Gambian accomplice, Jalikatou Bah, continued on 16th March 2010 at the Bundung Magistrates' Court.

Edwin Arthur Levender and Jalikatou Bah were alleged to have, on 17th November 2009 at Palma Rima Beach, indecently exposed their private parts at a pubic place.

Testifying under cross-examination, the third prosecution witness, Lance Corporal Tumani Manneh, told the court that he is a soldier attached to the Senegambia Tourism Security Unit (TSU), and that their role is to safeguard the life and the property of tourists.

Defence counsel Sagarr Jahateh, asked the witness whether he knows that tourists when at the beach side take a sunbath, and further stated that it is a normal thing that they put on their swimming dress or topless.

The witness in reply said that they cover their breasts and private parts, and that he never came across tourists who expose their private parts and breasts.

As to what duty he was performing at the time, Lance Corporal Manneh adduced that he was on guard to protect tourists, and denied arresting the accused persons.

He explained that his involvement was when one Kawsu Suwareh came with the camera which he (Kawsu Suwareh) said he seized from a white man, whom he found photographing the girl, who was at the time completely naked.

He said it was based on that allegation that they invited both parties to the photo lab where they printed and developed the films into twenty-one pictures - two of which were found to be the images of the girl completely naked.

He told the court that it was after the printing of the pictures that he invited the parties to the TSU base at Senegambia, and made a statement to that effect.

He maintained that his reason for investigating this case was to establish the allegation that was levied against the accused persons, since TSU personnel are mandated to engage for 75 percent of their time on police duties.

The case was subsequently adjourned to 31st March 2010.