Ousman Sanneh, former operations director at the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA), last Thursday opened his defence in the criminal trial involving Ibrahim Bun Sanneh, former NDEA executive director, and four others at the high court in
Ibrahim Bun Sanneh, former NDEA executive director, Karamo Bojang, former deputy chief of the agency, Ousman Sanneh, the former commissioner of operations, Seedou Bojang, the agency’s accountant, and one Marie Sanneh, were indicted by state prosecutors under a 30-count charge.
The alleged offences include conspiracy to commit felony, stealing by person in public service, aiding and abetting, unlawful possession of firearm, unlawful possession of live ammunitions, concealment and destroying of evidence, official corruption, abuse of office and committing economic crimes, obtaining money by false pretence, making document without authority, among others.
In his defence testimony, Ousman Sanneh who is also the third accused on person the trial, told the court that he resides at Kombo Sanyang and was the operations director at the NDEA.
He assumed the office of operations director in 2005, and that before he joined the NDEA he was with the Gambia Gendarmerie, from where he was later moved to the Gambia Police Force.
The witness admitted knowing the accused persons in the case, and that he also worked with them.
He denied conspiring with his co- accused persons and stealing money from the Government of the
He told the court that it was the 2nd accused person who was keeping the hard drugs, while Alieu Jassey (the thirteenth prosecution witness) was the custodian of cannabis seized. Sanneh also said he did not keep the monies of the NDEA.
Asked by his defence counsel whether he knew one Manjang Janko, Sanneh told the court that he heard about Manjang Janko.
The case continues.
