The trial
involving 14 UDP supporters Monday proceeded before Principal Magistrate Dayoh
M. Small-Dago of the Brikama Magistrates’ Court with the testimony of the fifth
prosecution witness (PW5).
They are charged with unlawful assembling and prohibition of conduct conducive to breach of the peace.
They are Lamin Marong, Lamin Sonko, Foday Gassama, Maimuna Darboe, Ousman Drammeh, Sherrif Kinteh, Jerreh Fatty, Fakebba Colley, Sirreh Sonko, Bakary Gibba, Wandifa Kinteh, Kawsu Jaiteh, Yaya Njai, and Lamin Njai, all denied the charges.
In his testimony, Lamin Singhateh, a police officer attached to the Tujereng police station, said he knew Kawsu Jaiteh and Wandifa Kinteh.
He recalled that on 15 February 2014, he was on duty at the station when he was instructed by his station officer, ASP Bahoum, to obtain a cautionary statement from Kawsu Jaiteh, which he did.
He said he read the cautionary wording to him in Mandinka and the accused confirmed and thumb-printed it, and the independent witness, Lamin Jawara, also thumb-printed it.
Officer Singhateh added that he then asked the accused about what happened and the accused narrated it while he recorded, saying that he read it to the accused in Mandinka in the presence of the same independent witness. The accused confirmed it and thumb-printed it, as well as the independent witness, he said.
The said statement was identified by the witness and it was tendered and marked in evidence as exhibit without any objection from the defence counsel.
The case was then adjourned till 8 April 2014.
According to the charge sheet read in court on count one, the accused persons, on 14 February 2014, at Madiyana village, Kombo South, West Coast Region, unlawfully assembled themselves and conducted a meeting without any permit or authority, thereby committed an offence.
Count two stated that the accused persons on the same date and place conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace, and thereby committed an offence.
