One Momodou Touray of Gunjur village recently opened his defence at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court, presided over by Magistrate Jorbarteh.
The accused persons, Momodou Touray, Buba Touray, Mustapha Touray and Sanding Touray were on 29 September 2013, at Kachumeh village in Kombo South, wilfully and unlawfully damaged or destroyed barbwire fence of one Neneh Mendy valued at D25,140.
In his evidence-in-chief, Momodou Touray said the land in question was owned by his father since the founding of Gunjur by Darboe Kunda who were the first settlers in Gunjur followed by Touray Kunda.
He told the court he did not destroy the complainant’s fence and that the land belonged to Touray Kunda clan in Gunjur.
He said the Jolas were the first settlers on the said land and the Jola woman who was the first settler on the land was a wife to his grandfather, adding that the Touray Kunda families never settled on any Manjanko land.
He further told the court that when his late father was alive, the Sarahuleh people used to come to his father to borrow a land for their farming.
He said he did not know the complainant neither her father nor the complainant’s father ever cultivated on the said land in question, adding that none of his forefathers gave that land to any Manjankos to settle on it.
