Dr Scattred Janneh & co case proceeds

The trial on charges of treason and sedition involving Dr Amadou Scattred Janneh and three others proceeded yesterday at the Special Criminal Court in Banjul.

Testifying as the thirteenth prosecution witness (PW13) Fakebba Suso told the court that he is a police officer attached to police headquarters in Banjul at the Criminal Investigation Unit.

ASP Suso stated that he recognized all the accused persons, and that on 27 May 2011, he was in his office when Sulayman Gaye called him and told him that he found a plastic bag containing a T-shirt.

He added that on the front side of the T-shirt was written “Coalition for Change” The Gambia and “End to Dictatorship” while at the back of the T-shirt it was written “Freedom” and the logo on the T-shirt was “Freedom”.

Officer Suso told the court that he reported the matter to his immediate boss Commissioner Saine, and Saine instructed him to investigate who the perpetrator was, adding that he took the trademark of the T-shirt and gave it to his officers, and later sent his officers to Banjul’s Albert Market in order to investigate the retailer of the said T-shirt.

He said upon the return of Sulayman Gaye and Ousman Thorpe, they brought along one Yaya Jallow, and when Jallow was questioned he gave some names of the people who purchased the T-shirts, adding that Jallow later led them to Sertex Company, who is the main importer of the said T-shirt, which is owned by one Muhammed Idriss.

Testifying further, he said Idriss gave them some of the buyers names involving Michel Uche, adding that they then setup a panel comprising CIU and PIU.

He stated that after consulting with the printers, they invited Muhammed Idriss of Serter Company who also mentioned the name of Michel Uche again.

“On 6 June 2011, I received a called from one of the panelists, who told me that Michel Uche was invited and he confessed printing the T-shirts. I then instructed him to go to Uche’s house and collect all the printing materials, ASP Suso testified, adding that upon his arrival at police headquarters he found Uche and his printing materials there.

The witness further adduced that when Michel Uche was interrogated, he told them that he was assigned by Keita, the 2nd accused person and Jallow the 3rd accused person, adducing that when Keita and Jallow were invited at the panel they admitted assigning Michel Uche to print the T-shirts.

He added that when Keita and Jallow were asked who contracted them to print the T-shirts, they said it was the 1st accused person, Dr Amadou Scattred Janneh of Commit Company.

The witness further told the court that when Janneh was asked by the panel who contracted Keita and Jallow, Janneh confirmed contracting Keita and Jallow to print the said T-shirts, adding that the panelists then went to the office of Janneh.

He said when the panel asked Janneh whether he had any external hard drive; the 1st accused said he had  an external hard drive.

The case continues today.