In Government Theft Case, Detective Officer Appears

As the trial of ex-Superintendent Manlafi Sanyang, Lt. Bakary Camara and Domenico Fedelish continues, a Police Detective Officer has testified before Magistrate Kayode of the Banjul Magistrates' Court.

Adducing evidence, Detective Inspector Modou Lamin Manneh, attached to the Serious Crime Unit of Police Headquarters, Banjul, told the court that he recognised the accused persons. He added that on 25th January 2008, he took the cautionary and voluntary statements of the 1st and 2nd accused persons, Lt. Bakary Camara and Manlafi Sanyang respectively. "I cautioned them in English and then translated to Wollof in the presence of an independent witness," the Detective Inspector told the court. "I endorsed the statements, likewise the accused persons and the independent witness," he added.  The said statements were later tendered in court as exhibits.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel Lamin Camara, the Detective Inspector admitted that he did not know Lt. Bakary Camara before the case in question but that he knew the 2nd accused, Manlafi Sanyang.

"The accused persons asked me to write their statements, which I did as it was my duty," he stated, adding that both the 1st and 2nd accused denied the allegation in their statements. He also told the court that he knew the 3rd accused, Domenico Fedelish during the course of the investigation into the matter.

He further adduced that the statements of Lt. Bakary Camara were taken at the NIA headquarters and that both statements were in his own handwriting.

At this juncture the prosecution informed the court that it had more witnesses to call whereupon the case was adjourned to 10th April 2008.