DW2 cross-examined in robbery case

Defence witness two (DW2), Modou Salieu Suma, who is standing trial for alleged robbery offence alongside his co-accused, Babucarr Jammeh, recently testified under cross-examination in the mini-trial at the Special Criminal Court in Banjul before Justice Emmanuel Nkea.

Testifying under cross-examination, Suma said: “I did not sign this cautionary statement before the court. I was subjected to torture by beating me while in cell for me to sign a statement, which I refused to do.”

The second accused further told the court that they told him he had to sign the statement, but he refused, adding that he was tortured because he refused to sign the statement.

The witness denied giving a statement to the police in connection with the matter.

“The police just wrote what they wanted and brought it to me while I was in the cell with my co-accused person,” Suma told the court.

He stated further that he was detained for some time before taking him to court, adding that the said statement was not voluntary, as he was forced to sign a written statement.

“When I was approached with this allegation, I completely denied it even at the station, because I did not rob the complainant, and I did not conspire with Jammeh to rob the complainant as alleged,” he said.

He added that prior to this accusation, he did not even know his co-accused person, they just met in the cell, stating that it was the complainant who came to him and narrated her problem to him so that he (the accused) could help her out.

The case continues.