CID officer cross-examined in 4 nurses trial

The accused persons Ensa Jarju, Ndey Touray, Adama Danso and Fatou Sonko were charged with three counts of rash or negligent conduct, giving false information and official corruption.

Responding to questions by defence counsel LK Mboge, the witness told the court he did not know the reason why the complainant was not attended to, and he did not find out the reason.

Asked whether he knew that the labour ward was full to capacity, and that all the ten beds were occupied, the witness responded in the negative.

He said he did know how many wards were under the care of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th accused persons.

It was then put to him that the 2nd, 3rd and 4th accused persons were in charge of four labour wards at the same time.

Designated as the fourth prosecution witness, detective Jallow said he did not find out how many patients were awaiting at the labour ward, at the time of delivery of the complainant, Binta Bah.

Detective Jallow further told the court that he did also find out how many patients were in the postnatal ward, and did not also know how many patients were in the outpatient ward.

Counsel then told him that he did not know the facts of the case, but the witness said he knew the facts after the investigation.

Counsel put it to him that he did not know the circumstances in the ward, at the time of delivery of Binta Bah, but the witness said he knew, because he relied on Binta Bah’s statement.

Told that even if the accused persons were all in the same ward, they could not attend to ten patients at the same time, the witness said he did not know that there were ten patients.

It was further put to him that he acted on “exaggerated and fabricated information”, which led to the charges against the accused persons, but the witness denied that.

The case continues on 15 April 2014.

Count one stated Ensa Jarju, Ndey Touray, Adama Danso and Fatou Sonko, on 23 November 2013 between 21 and 22 00 hours at Brikama health centre in Kombo Central district, being employees of the medical and health department at the time, they acted in a rash or negligent manner causing the death of Binta Bah’s newly-born baby, and thereby committed an offence.

Count two stated that the accused told the officers at Brikama CID office that the photograph report dated 23 November 2013 was prepared by the afternoon shift, which information they knew or believed to be false.

Count three stated that the accused persons in charge of the labour ward at the time, after delivering Binta Bah’s newly-born baby, corruptly obtained the sum of D1,500 from Isatou Sowe, who escorted the patient.