The false information trial involving former Managing Director of the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA), Abdoulie Tambedou, Monday continued at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court before acting Principal Magistrate Dawda S. Jallow.
Mr Tambedou faces a four-count charge, all relating to giving false information to a public officer, charges he had since denied.
Monday’s continuation heard the testimony of the fifth prosecution witness (PW5), Ousman Jobarteh, GPA Director of Traffic and Operations.
Mr. Jobarteh testified that some time last year he received a phone call from police headquarters that he should report to the police in Banjul.
“Upon my arrival at police headquarters, they asked me whether it was true that Lamin Sanyang (PW4) wanted to knock the accused down with his car, and he responded to them in the negative,” he said.
He added that on the day in question, Lamin Sanyang passed him and the accused person together with other staff members of the ports.
When asked by the prosecuting officer, Sergeant Manga, that apart from Lamin Sanyang who passed them with his vehicle, what else did he do, Jobarteh said Sanyang did nothing, adding that he later made a statement to the police.
Under cross-examination, the witness testified that he did not know why people asked the individual that drove passed them.
Hearing continues on 5 Februar y 2013.
The particulars of offence on count one read that Abdoulie Tambedou, on 13 August 2012, in Banjul, within the jurisdiction of the court, wrote a petition letter with reference number GPA/MD (1) to the Office of the President, alleging that indiscipline is being meted out to him by the associates and relatives of his predecessor, Momodou Lamin Gibba, by way of making derogatory remarks towards him and the GPA management with intent to make the GPA ungovernable for him and the information he knew to be false at the time.
Count two stated that Abdoulie Tambedou, on 13 August 2012, in Banjul, within the jurisdiction of the court, wrote a letter with reference number GPA/MD (1) to the Office of the President that he had actually informed his predecessor, Momodou Lamin Gibba of the problems he had with his alleged relatives and associates in which he distanced himself from their actions, an information he knew to be false at the time.
Count three stated that Abdoulie Tambedou, on 13 August 2012, in Banjul, within the jurisdiction of the court, wrote a letter with reference number GPA/MD (1) to the Office of the President, that if he had taken an action against Lamin Sanyang and Ebou Gibba, the duo would have definitely written to the President’s office complaining of tribalism, an information he knew to be false at the time.
Count four stated that Abdoulie Tambedou, some time in December, 2012, at the Police Headquarters in Banjul, within the jurisdiction of the court, he allegedly told the panel of investigators that Lamin L. Sanyang attempted to knock him down with his car during one of his visits to the PWD container terminal in July 2012, an information he knew to be false.
