Alleged terrorist case continues

Mamadi M. Sawo, an officer of the Police Intervention Unit attached to Kanifing PIU, yesterday testified at the Special Criminal Court in the trial of 16 alleged terrorist suspects.

The accused persons, who all denied the charges, are Alasana Thomas Jarju, Maulud Badjie, Lasana (Proper) Sambou, Ousman Jarju, Mansour Jatta, Sedat Jatta, Sedat Jatta, Fabia Nyafuneh, Pa Ousman Badjie, Abdoulie Jatta, Mumin Bah and Abdoulie Jarju, all Senegalese, and Samsideem Jammeh, Kebba Seckan, Kemo Conteh and Sam Kambai, Gambians.

They were alleged to have, "on 8 August 2006 at Darsilameh village and diverse places in the West Coast Region, jointly conducted and engaged themselves in an unlawful act which may seriously destabilize or destroy the fundamental, political, constitutional, economic and social structure of The Gambia."

Mamadi M. Sawo testified as the fifth prosecution witness, and told the court that on 6 June 2006, he was at Brikama and later posted to Darsilameh village around the border.

He said while at the border, a gele gele vehicle came from Casamance end and entered The Gambia at a village called Darsilameh.

"At the checkpoint, I asked the passengers to alight from the Gele Gele together with their bags. I screened their bags and came across four rounds of live ammunitions in the bag of one Alasana Prosper Sambou, with seven others," the witness told the court.

 PW5 further adduced that he later consulted his commander on the ground about the discovery, and later contacted the Brikama Police Station, before escorting them to Brikama.

When asked by the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions why did he escort them to Brikama, the witness said the accused persons were found with ammunition, and some pictures.

He identified the said ammunition and the picture which were admitted and tendered as exhibits.

Under cross-examination, the witness stated that the seven accused persons were arrested in The Gambia, adding that he did not know the whereabouts of the others.

He further stated, under cross-examination, that the accused persons were arrested after they alighted from the vehicle, with bullets and pictures.

The accused persons, the witness told the court, alleged that they were on their way to The Gambia for treatment, because one of them was shot on the thigh.

The case at that juncture was adjourned till 11 March 2011.