Godwin Chukwuka, alongside one Leonard Onyeka Nwosu, who was at large, on Thursday, denied that he was responsible for the 11 pillets of suspected drugs found with him.
The accused, Godwin Chukwuka and Leonard Onyeka Nwosu, were charged with conspiracy to commit a felony.
Testifying before Magistrate Jobarteh at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, the prosecution witness, CPL Majorr Jahateh attached to the Operation Bulldozer office in Banjul, testified that he recognised the accused.
He told the court he was in Pipeline on the day in question after been briefed about an operation that was to be mounted against the accused.
‘’Upon arrival at the accused’s residence in Pipeline together with my colleagues, we were all positioned at different areas around the accused’s residence,’’ said the police witness.
He said he was positioned at the gate of the compound of the accused and all of a sudden the accused came out with a nylon bag containing items.
According to him, he followed the accused and the accused became suspicious of him and started to run.
‘’When I ran after him, the accused threw the nylon bag containing the items into an incomplete building,’’ said CPL Jahateh.
He adduced that when he caught him, they returned to where they came from and on their way they arrived at the said unfinished building where also one of his colleagues, Pa Modou, appeared. He asked Pa Modou to pick up the nylon bag thrown by the accused, said CPL Jahateh.
“The accused then shouted and said ‘Jesus’,’’ CPL Jahateh explained, saying the accused was arrested and taken to the Operation Bulldozer office in Banjul where the accused was charged and his statement recorded.
Asked by the prosecutor whether he knew the content of the bag upon arrest of the accused, the witness responded in the positive, saying the bag was later opened at the Banjul office and 11 pillets of suspected drugs were found in it.
He added that it was tendered at the desk in the charge office and he gave his statement.
Under cross-examination, when asked by the accused whether the witness carried any test to prove that the items found in the nylon bag were suspected drugs, he said he was not the one responsible.
When it was put to the witness that the accused was not responsible, the witness said he did not know about that.
Asked further whether it is a crime to see a man running on the street, the prosecution witness replied in the negative.
When it was put to the witness by the accused that he was being incriminated and that nothing was found on him, the witness denied that.
Hearing continues on 23 January 2013.
According to the charge sheet, on 30 June 2012, at Pipeline, Kairaba Avenue and diverse places in The Gambia, the accused jointly conspired to sell fake drugs for the purpose of gaining money, which they knew or have reason to believe was against the laws of The Gambia.
