Babylon Alkalo opens defence

Lamin Jarjue, alkalo of Babylon village, recently opened his defence in the trial involving him and 13 others before Principal Magistrate Dayo of the Brikama Magistrates’ Court.

Lamin Jarjue and 13 others were charged with criminal trespass, arson, conspiracy and wilful damage to property.

In his testimony, Lamin Jarjue told the court that he knew all his co- accused persons as they were all from Babylon village.

He said he did not know Francis Mendy and did not even know where Francis’ farm was located neither to set fire on his cashew farm.

He denied conspiring with any of his co-accused persons to set fire on Francis Mendy’s cashew farm nor did he destroy the 75 cashew trees, as well as entering the farm, neither to insult him.

Jarju said the place where fire was set was not in Makumbaya village but was in the Western side of Babylon village, adding that the certificate of transfer of ownership of land was not genuine because the land was not situated at Makumbaya village but in Babylon village.

He said he could remember in 2008 when the people of Makumbaya village came to Babylon to attack and they set fire on his house and his vehicle.

They also poured petrol onto their rice and burnt it and also set fire on Jalang mangoes and his vehicles too, he said, adding that they were arrested by the police and the statements were obtained from them.

He said the case was brought before the court but did not finish.

He added that the then magistrate ordered for his (Jarju) arrest, saying that this conspiracy against him started a long time.

He said the complainant, Francis Mendy, stated in his statement that, he Lamin Jarjue, Amadou Lamin Jallow, Pa Jassey and Nuha Saidy met him on his land and asked him to get out, which was not true.

According to him, Babylon was a village existing during the colonial era and that Babylon was owned by the Jarjue kunda family where he belongs to because his groundfather, Mamodou Jarjue, was the first settler in Babylon.

Hearing continues.