The trial
involving the acting alkalo of Makumbaya village, Alagie Kujabi, and others
Tuesday continued at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Jagne.
It continued with the cross-examination of defence witness two (DW2), Yankuba Bojang, by the fourth accused, Yankuba Jammeh.
Asked by the 4th accused person as to who wrote the petition letter to the President’s Office, the witness told the court that the petition letter was written by Bissente Gomez, Babucarr Mendy and some other people.
Further asked by the 4th accused person if he and Alagie were among those who wrote the petition letter, DW2 answered in the negative.
Quizzed again that when the Office of the President wrote a reply to the petition letter, whether they did not make copies to Alagie Kujabi, the acting alkalo of Makumbaya village, the governor, social security and Mam Sait Njie; DW2 answered in the affirmative, saying he even saw the copy.
When the reply was given to Alagie Kujabi, with whom did Alagie go to the farm to verify, DW2 said Alagie went with the 4th accused.
Asked if it was not true that those who wrote the petition letter were arrested including the acting alkalo Alagie Kujabi, DW2 said that was true.
Responding to questions by the prosecution, DW2 said it was true that Bissente Gomez and Babucarr Mendy wrote a letter to the Office of the President.
DW2 also said it was true that after receiving the letter, the Office of the President wrote a letter to the alkalo, adding that it was the alkalo and Yankuba Jammeh who went to the farm to verify.
“After going to the farm, do you know their findings?” asked the prosecutor.
“What they found out is that Mam Sait Njie asked the youths to cut down the cashew trees,” DW2 answered.
It was put to him that based on the information that cashew trees were cut by Mam Sait Njie was not true, that was why they were arrested, DW2 said it was true they cut down the trees.
Asked whether he knew that there was a panel of investigators pertaining to the matter, DW2 said he did not know that.
It was further put to him that according to information given by the panel of investigators, the allegation was untrue, but the witness said he did not know that.
It was also put to him that Mam Sait Njie owns the said land, but the witness again said he did not know that.
The particulars of offence read that the accused persons, Babucarr Mendy, Alagie Kujabi, Bissente Gomez and Yankuba Jammeh on 24 December 2009, in Banjul, gave false information to the Office of the President through a petition letter dated 23 December 2009, alleging that certain individuals have been intruding into his farmland and felled hundreds of his cashew trees, the information they knew was false or did not believe to be true.
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