Alh.
Momodou Sanyang, Director General of the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) on Monday testified before
Principal Magistrate Edrissa Mbai of the Banjul Magistrates' Court in the trial
of one James Gomez.
Mr Gomez is
standing trial on a charge of giving false information to a public officer.
In his
testimony, D G Sanyang told the court that he recognised the accused person and
that he could recall the 17thNovember 2008. He said he received a call and he
asked who the caller was and the accused identified himself as the one who
works on the president's sound system. He said he asked the accused what he can
do for him and the accused in reply told him that he was talking to the
president and that he had a letter to be handed over to the president hand to
hand. He added that he enquired from the accused what the letter was about and
the accused said it was confidential and then advised the accused to send the
letter through the protocol, but the accused told him that the president said
he should hand over the letter to him so that he (the witness) can hand it over
to him.
GRTS DG further told the court that he asked the accused how he can get the
president without going through the protocol, and the accused said 'just tell
him that I have a message for the president'. He adduced that on the
16thNovember 2008 the accused went to his home and
handed over the letter to him and he again asked the accused what was the
letter about and the accused still maintained that it was confidential. He said
on 17thNovember
2008 before
calling the protocol to seek an appointment he called the accused and suggested
to him for the letter to be delivered through the protocol and at that time he
was with Kebba Dibba. He revealed that he informed Kebba Dibba about it and
Kebba Dibba told him if there was a directive go by the directive because there
was nobody to call for clarification. He said he announced to the protocol and
entered the office of the president whom he told of his mission. He added that
the president asked who James Gomez was and he told the president the one who
works on your sound system and the president told him he had not spoken to the
accused for a year.He said he was later
instructed by the president to open and read the letter and while reading the
president told him that the accused had confirmed in the letter that he had not
spoken to him for a year. He said that was the time he knew that the president
did not know anything about the accused's letter. He stated that the matter was
reported to the police and he was called to make a statement.
The case
was adjourned to 22ndDecember 2008.
