One Alieu Bah, a prisoner sentenced to death, and serving at the State Central Prison Mile 2, yesterday testified at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court in the case involving four senior prisons officers.
They are Abdoulie Bojang, Solo Manga, Buba Badjie and Bakary Jammeh, all being tried for conspiracy to bring prohibited articles into the prison, among others.
Testifying as the fifth prosecution witness, Bah told the court that he recognized three of the accused persons, except Buba Badjie, the 3rd accused person.
He said he came to know the fourth accused person, Bakary Jammeh, as a prison warder, adding that he (Bah) was convicted and sentenced to death in 1998.
As a condemned prisoner, he told the court, he did not have access to his family, and would normally send Bakary Jammeh, the 4th accused person, to one Ousman Ndow to provide him with the provisions he needed.
Bah further asserted that he has sent Jammeh to Mr. Ndow several times, but could not remember how many times he sent Jammeh to his family.
When asked by the Director of Public Prosecutions how he managed to send Jammeh to Ousman Ndow, Bah said he did so by writing notes for Bakary to take to Ndow, or call him by using a cell phone.
He added that the phone was brought to him in the cell by a friend called Amunya Badjie, who was not present in court. Amunya Badjie was a convicted prisoner, since discharged.
Testifying further, Bah told the court that he knew one Abu Jah, but nothing transpired between them.
He said the properties were brought by Jammeh, and dropped at the gate where they were recorded as procedure in the prison required.
Asked whether he did receive the provisions he sent for, Bah responded in the affirmative.
Also testifying as the sixth prosecution witness was one Ousman Ndow, who said he knew PW5, Alieu Bah, because they were staying together at Jarra Kunda in Serrekunda.
Ndow added that he recognized Bakary Jammeh, as he used to go to him whenever he was sent by Alieu Bah.
“I used to give him between D200 and D300 to buy provisions for Alieu Bah, who is serving a death sentence,” testified Ndow.
He further testified that he had given the fourth accused person D200 to 300 for provisions for Alieu Bah more than five times.
The case was at that juncture adjourned till 29 February 2012.
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