Ex-IGP Badjie, & OC Prosecution trial proceeds

The trial of former police chief Ensa Badjie and former officer commanding prosecution Banjul Division, chief superintendent Tijan Badjie, yesterday proceeded at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court before Principal Magistrate Tawio Ade Alagbe.

The two Badjies are being tried on charges of conspiracy to defeat justice and interference with witnesses, destroying evidence, and abuse of office.

Testifying under cross-examination as the fourth prosecution witness, Ismailai Mendy told the court he was not among the officers who effected the arrest of former crime management coordinator (CMC) and Ebrima Jammeh, alias “Kunki”.

The defence counsel then put it to the witness that the officers who arrested Burama Dibba and Ebrima Jammeh were Wuyeh Sanneh and Victor Demba of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA.

When further quizzed by the defence counsel as to whether he would able to remember the charges preferred against Burama Dibba, the witness told the court he could not remember unless the court helped him to check the records.

PW4 admitted that the panel of investigation’s report was not signed by any of the panel members, and was compiled with a computer. 

According to the particulars of offence on count one, Ensa Badjie and Tijan Badjie in 2008, in Banjul, allegedly conspired to falsely accuse Burama Dibba of having committed the offence of giving false information to a public servant before the Banjul Magistrates’ Court.

Count two indicated that Tijan Badjie in 2008, in Banjul, being a police prosecutor in the case of Inspector General of Police versus Musa Suso before the Bundung Magistrates’ Court, knowing that an investigation report of the panel that investigated the said Musa Suso was required in evidence, willfully concealed same with intent to prevent it from being used in evidence.

Count three also stated that Ensa Badjie and Tijan Badjie in 2008, in Banjul, being employed in the public service as police officers, abused the authority of their offices and did or directed to be done, arbitrary acts prejudicial to the rights of others to wit maliciously arrested and caused the prosecution of Burama Dibba for the offence of giving false information to a public servant before the Banjul Magistrates’ Court without just cause.

And count four stated that the duo in 2008, in Banjul, knowing that Musa Suso may be called as a prosecution witness in the case of Inspector General of Police versus Burama Dibba, deceitfully tried to convince the said Musa Suso to give evidence against Burama Dibba with intent of affecting his testimony.

The case was then adjourned till 12 June 2012, for continuation of the hearing.