Sillaba Samateh, the first prosecution witness in the trial of former Inspector General of Police Ensa Badjie, Lt. Colonel Matarr Secka and Major Kuluteh Manneh, has made more revelations at the high court in Banjul. He told the court yesterday that "the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) demanded D1million from me".
However, he continued, "that amount was not in my possession. I sold my property situated in Latrikunda for D850, 000 and gave the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) D800, 000," PW1 informed the court.
He added that the day he gave the said money to the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie), was the day when they were released from police detention, after three days, that is, Samateh himself, Ousman Bojang and Nema Ceesay.
Continuing his testimony before Justice Emmanuel Amadi on Wednesday, Sillaba Samateh told the court that a meeting was held at his premises at Tranquil, which is located on the highway towards Brufut.
At the meeting, he added, "the 1st accused person (Ensa Badjie) introduced himself, and told us the role each of us was supposed to play. That is, to show items such as diamond, gold and precious stones to people who need them," the witness told the court.
He further informed the court that it was the role of the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) and one Edrissou to bring people who are in need of the items. He added that at the time of the meeting the items were with the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie).
"It was after the meeting that the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) handed over the items to me," the witness revealed.
Further testifying, Sillaba Samateh told the court that Edrissou brought a Senegalese who was in need of some drugs (cocaine).
"Then I called the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) who drove with his vehicle and found me with Edrissou," he stated. PW1 further informed the court that the Senegalese made an advance payment of D25,000, but he could not remember the name of the Senegalese. He revealed that out of the D25,000, the 1st accused ( Ensa Badjie) took D10, 000, Edrissou D5000, himself D5000 and the 2nd accused person (Mam Matarr Secka) D5000. However, the Senegalese was not given drugs (cocaine), he said.
Still testifying, the prosecution witness told the court that, after two weeks, he received a call from Edrissou, who later came with one Omar Ndow, and that the said Omar wanted drugs (cociane) and gold.
"I called the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) again, but he (Ensa Badjie) told me that he could not come at that time, because he had a job at around the turn-table," he added.
"The said Omar Ndow brought 10,000 Euros; I informed the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie), who told me to take 3000 Euros to him at the turn-table," Sillaba Samateh adduced.
"I went together with Omar Ndow, where I gave the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) the sum of 3000 Euros in an envelop, the 2nd accused (Mam Matarr Secka) was given 1000 Euros, Edrissou 3000 Euros and I took 3000 Euros." He said Omar Ndow was not given the drugs (cocaine).
According to PW1, Edrissou brought someone called Eron Wright from the UK, who first came with D40, 000 for drugs (cocaine), and that when the D40, 000 was being paid the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) and Edrissou were present at his compound.
"The 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) told me that he was urgently in need of the money, and he took the D40, 000, PW1 revealed. He said the drugs (cocaine) were not given to Eron Wright. Two to three days later, he added, the same Eron Wright came with another D40, 000. He added that out of the D40, 000, the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) took D12, 000, the 2nd accused (Mam Matarr Secka) was given D10, 000, Edrissou D8000 and himself D10, 000.
He said the second D40, 000 was for gold, and that the gold was not given to Eron Wright. He adduced that after three weeks Edrissou brought Salim, a Morrocan, who wanted drugs.
PW1 revealed that before Salim came, the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) called to inform him that there is a Moroccan who wanted cocaine.
"The 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) told me that the Moroccan was coming with 28,000 dollars and the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) further told me that after work he would come to my compound," PW1 informed the court.
"The 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) later came in uniform, when Edrissou and Salim were already in my house," he added. PW1 adduced that the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) demanded half of the money brought by Salim, which was 14,000 dollars.
"I gave him 14,000 dollars in an envelope in the presence of the Erdissou and Salim," PW1 stated. He said the drugs (cocaine) were not given to Salim. "After, Edrissou came and said he wanted to give me some money for safe- keeping." he added.
"The 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) made the said Salim to be arrested and taken to police station, but I (the witness) did not know the reason," he testified. PW1 adduced that Edrissou came with 3150 Euros, and that at that time the 1st and 2nd accused persons were in his compound. He said out of the 3150 Euros, the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) demanded 1500 Euros, which was given to him. After two to three weeks," the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) and 2nd accused (Mam Matarr Secka) came back to his compound where the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) asked me to call Edrissou to come."
"Upon the arrival of Edrissou, the 2nd accused (Mam Matarr Secka) indicated that he wanted to travel, and that in his absence, the 3rd accused (Kuluteh Manneh) will replace him. That any amount due to him should be given to the 3rd accused (Kuluteh Manneh), and he the 3rd accused person (Kuluteh Manneh) accepted."
He said before the 3rd accused stepped in, on that particular day, the sum of 3700 Euros was given to the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie), who counted the money and gave 1500 Euros to the 2nd accused, while he (the witness) and Edrissou were present.
PW1 further revealed that the 3700 Euros was his personal money, adding that the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) forcefully demanded that sum of money.
PW1 also told the court that Edrissou brought one Ike who came with the sum of 15,000 Euros for drugs (cocaine). He said, at the time Ike came, the three accused persons were present.
"The money was shared by Edrissou as follows: the 1st accused person (Ensa Badjie) 5000 Euros, the 2nd accused ( Mam Matarr Secka) was given 1000 Euros, Edrissou 2000 Euros, and I (the witness) 2000 Euros." He said the drugs ( cocaine) were not given to Ike. He added that after sometime Ike was arrested, but he (the witness) did not know the reason for the arrest.
"After, the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) came and asked me to help him with some material for the construction of his compound," the witness further told the court. He said at the time, the 1st accused person (Ensa Badjie) was asking for help, and there was no force.
"I helped him with what I can afford, but thereafter the 1st accused forcefully demanded building materials from me several times."
"I gave him 3000 blocks. I also gave him tiles, which was meant for my own construction. I used to take cement on credit and give it to the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie), and I still owe those people. I also gave timber and plywood to the 1st accused person (Ensa Badjie), and I also gave him electrical materials and other accessories," he stated.
He said every two to three days, the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) will send his driver for money, and that he could not remember the amount of money he gave to the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie).
"I did this because I was intimidated, and the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) was the police chief," he added.
"At the start of this problem, at the police station, the 1st accused demanded money from me so that he could put an end to the problem," he adduced.
"The 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) demanded D1 million from me, but that amount was not in my possession," he said. "I sold my property situated in Latrikunda for D850,000 and gave the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) D800, 000," PW1 informed the court.
He said the day he gave the said money to the 1st accused (Ensa Badjie) was the day when they were released from police detention, after three days, that is, Samateh himself, Ousman Bojang and Nema Ceesay. He also told the court at one time, the 1st accused, Ensa Badjie told him that he wants some chairs, but he, the witness told him that he had no money.
"He then asked me whether I know Rambo of One Plus One, and asked me to go and talk to Rambo to give him, the 1st accused some furniture. I went to Rambo and gave him a post dated cheque and the furniture worth around D100, 000 were delivered to the 1st accused by Rambo's workers.
The witness was then cross-examined by defence counsel Borry Touray before the case was adjourned to 26th May 2010 for continuation