Alleged Peace Corps Rape Case Continues

The trial of one Sara Camara who is alleged of raping a Peace Corps volunteer sometime in the month of August this year yesterday continued before Justice Moses Richards of the Special Criminal Court of the High Court.

Testifying before the court, the firth prosecution witness, Abdoulie SK Manneh, a Detective Police Officer attached to Bakau Police Station told the court that he knew the victim and recognised the accused person as well.

According to him, on 10th August 2009, he was on duty at the Bakau Police Station when a rape case was reported to them.

After opening a case file, he said they visited the victim at the Peace Corps Clinic where she was examined by a doctor.

He adduced that the following day, they visited the scene of the alleged crime and upon arrival there they found a bunch of keys and a bra, which the victim identified as her own property.

Further testifying, Detective Manneh told the court that he later recovered a shirt and trouser worn by the victim.

He added that a few days later the accused was arrested through a mobile phone print out at Latrikunda German, and then taken to Kotu Police Station.

Detective Manneh further adduced that the accused also led them to the scene of the alleged crime and a statement was later obtained to that effect.

Also testifying, the sixth prosecution witness, Chief Superintendent Malamin Ceesay, who is responsible for the Major Crime Unit at the Gambia Police Force, told the court that he recognised the accused and could also recall on 19th August 2009.

According to him, on the day in question a rape case was referred to his office from the Bakau Police Station. He said when the case file was received at his office Boto Keita and Lamin Cham were assigned to investigate the matter under his supervision.

He revealed that during the investigation a telephone print out was made and a certain lady was called from Barra who told them that it was one Abdoulie Camara who had called her from Latirikunda German through that telephone number.

According to him, the lady led the investigators to Latrikunda German where Abdoulie Camara was arrested and taken to Kotu Police Station.

Chief Superintendent Ceesay further revealed that the said Abdoulie Camara told the investigators that the mobile phone was sold to him by the accused,Sara Camara thus leading to his arrest in a mechanical garage lying in an abandoned vehicle.

He said he interviewed the victim and shown the mobile to her, which she identified as her own.

The seventh prosecution witness to testify was Alpha Jallow, the Safety and Security Specialist for Peace Corps in The Gambia. He told the court that on 10th August 2009, he received a phone call from the Security Supervisor at the Peace Corps Guest House that one of the Peace Corps volunteers was coming from the beach when she was sexually assaulted.

He testified that he went to meet the victim at the Peace Corps Medical Unit and then to Bakau Police Station where the complaint was lodged. He added that he and the police officers visited the scene of the alleged crime and took pictures of the scene.

He revealed that a bunch of keys and a bra were found at the scene of the alleged crime, which the complainant identified as hers.

He said the victim had also shown them the direction taken by the accused person.

The items recovered and the pictures were later tendered in court as exhibits.