Lamin
Cham, a PIU officer and the 4th prosecution witness in the ongoing criminal
trial involving the state against 14 UDP supporters, continued his testimony
under cross-examination at the high court in Banjul, before presiding Judge O.
Ottaba on Thursday 24 November 2016.
The
accused persons are Bakary Jammeh, Kaddy Samateh, Lele Bojang, Alkali Sanneh,
Yaya Fatty, Muhammed Singhateh, Kemo Touray, Bakary Marong, Buba Mass, Alagie
Saidykhan, Tombong Njie, Modou Sarr, Sheriff Suso and Lamin Dampha.
They
are being tried on a seven-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony,
unlawful assembly, riot, incitement of violence, interference with vehicles,
holding procession without a permit and disobeying an order to disperse.
When
the matter came up, lawyer Awa Sisay-Sabally who led the defence team informed
the court that lawyer B.S. Touray was conducting the cross-examination.
“Were
you trained in crowd control?”
“Yes,
my lord.”
“Were
you issued with any certificate?”
“No,
my lord.”
“Can
you tell the court your first duty, when you are approaching a crowd as a
police officer?”
“I
approached the crowd professionally as a police officer.”
“Is
there any difference between a police officer and a non-police officer?”
“Yes,
there is a difference.”
“You
told this court in your evidence-in-chief that we took our equipment and went
to the rioters. What are the equipment?”
“It
involves so many rifles, if you are not a police officer you will not know and,
for security reasons, I am not here to disclose them.”
“Are
you telling the court that you don’t know the names of the equipment or you are
evading my question?”
“I
know them, I am not here to disclose them for security reasons. They are
confidential.”
“These
are the same equipment that your officers are using when they are escorting the
accused persons to court?”
“It
is different from the one we are using when there is a riot.”
“Are
you aware that on standard police beats rightfully, you are not allowed to be
armed with combat weapons?”
“Rifle
is part of our riot equipment.”
“You
have just confirmed that rifle has no confidentiality, since you have already
given us the name of one of them?”
“We
use rifle during our day to day activities.”
“Did
you share the same office with Superintendent Saine?”
“No,
I work under him.”
“At
the material time, on 9 May, where were you posted?”
“At
the Kanifing PIU barracks.”
“It
is correct that you were not in Supretendant Saine’s office at the time he
(Saine) received this information?”
“I
was in the barracks on duty.”
“You
were in barracks, and not in the office?”
“I
have no office.”
“Are
you aware that some of the accused persons were offered a lift from Banjul to
Old Jeshwang by security personnel?”
“Not
to my knowledge.”
“Are
you aware that some of the accused were offered lift to Westfield Junction by
some security personnel?”
“I
don’t know.”
“It
is correct that you don’t even know the accused persons by their names?”
“Yes,
I don’t know their names.”
“Do
you have a diary of action in this particular matter?”
“No,
my lord.”
“It
is also correct that you don’t know the total number of people, who was
arrested on 9 May 2016?”
“I
cannot remember.”
“Is
it correct that other than the rifle there were other equipment with lethal
effect?”
“I
can only tell you about the rifle, because we use it every day.”
“Did
you know that crowd control is a course all by itself, that is taught?”
“Yes.”
“Do
you know that those who write the course are certificated at the end of the
course?”
“I
do crowd control every day as part of my duty, but I have not seen anybody who
is certificated on crowd control.”
“Before
you went back to your base or as you were going back to your base, did you
collect anything from ICE Man Junction?”
“No,
my lord”
“I
put it to you that on this day, so many people were arrested at ICE Man
Junction, who went out and about their normal errands?”
“No,
my lord.”
“I
am putting it to you further that many people were also arrested at Westfield,
who were out and about their normal errands?”
“I
don’t know.”
“Is
it correct that all these people, you did not have any personal problem with
them?”
“We
only arrested those we have a problem with.”
“It
is also correct that nobody called you by your name and insulted you?”
“No,
my lord.”
“Were
you at Kairaba Avenue on this day?”
“No,
my lord.”
“Were
you aware that some people were arrested at Kairaba Avenue on this day?”
“I
cannot remember.”
At
this point, defence counsel B.S. Touray sought for an adjournment and the
matter was adjourned for today at 4.00pm.
