In Alleged Firearm Case, Military Police Officer Testifies

One Alagie Manneh, a Military Police officer yesterday testified before Magistrate Abdoulie Mbake of the Kanifing Magistrates' Court as the first prosecution witness in the on going trial of one Edward Baboucarr Okoro.

The accused, Edward Okoro is standing trial on charges of being in possession of fire arms without a valid licence.

It is alleged that the accused Edward Baboucarr Okoro was on 2nd January 2009 at Latrikunda German in the KanifingMunicipality found in possession of a pistol without a valid licence.

In his testimony, the witness Alagie Manneh adduced that while on duty at Yundum Barracks on the 7th January 2009, he was informed that the accused was engaged in impersonation. "I was informed by my boss Lieutenant Manneh, that he received a call from defence headquarters in Banjul that there was a man in Serrekunda who was impersonating as an intelligence officer by using a false name, "Edward", he told the court.

Further testifying, Manneh told the court that it was from there that they left the office to the scene but prior to their arrival at the scene, they met some drug squad officers who have already arrested the accused.

"A body search was conducted on the accused but nothing was found on him and it was at that juncture that our boss Lieutenant Manneh ordered us to go with the accused to his house where a search was also conducted and a pistol found under accused table," he revealed.

According to Manneh, they later questioned the accused where he got the pistol and he replied that he was one time an army officer, during which he was posted at Farafenni where he got the said pistol.

He adduced that the accused was later escorted to Yundum Barracks where he gave a statement at the military police charge office.

Prosecutor Cadet Inspector Mballow applied for the said pistol to be marked as exhibit but the accused objected to the application saying that he did not own the pistol.

However, the application was overruled by the presiding Magistrate and subsequently the pistol marked as exhibit A.

Case continues on 1st April 2009.