The criminal trial of Dawda Manneh former National Assembly Member for Nainija constituency in the Central River Region (CRR) and Demba Baldeh alias Mandela, proceeded on Monday before acting-Principal Magistrate Tawio Ade Alagba of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court.
The duo are being tried on drug (cannabis) related offences.
Testifying under cross-examination, the second accused person, Demba Baldeh, told the court that he knew the first accused person as a former National Assembly Member for Naini ja constituency in the Central River Region (CRR).
He pointed out that prior to their travelling to the provinces, Dawda Manneh was constantly calling him to ask when he (Baldeh) was ready for them to travel together to the provinces.
Baldeh maintained that the first accused knew him because he used go to his office and even to house, adding that he (Baldeh) was a security guard at the Central Bank of The Gambia.
“The said bag containing cannabis belongs to the first accused, Manneh, not me. The only bag I boarded on his vehicle with was the bag I handed over to my family, when we were arrested at Bansang village,” Baldeh, the second accused person, told the court.
He added that the said bag was searched by the officers on duty, on that particular day, but they found nothing, only his clothes.
Still testifying under cross-examination, Baldeh told the court that the first accused person picked up two people, one from Barra and other one from Njawo near Lamin-koto village, in the Central River Region (CRR).
Baldeh refuted the allegation that he was expelled from
“I enlisted in the Gambia National Army in 1987. I have never got any police case or even gone to the court,” Baldeh added.
He said even when they were arrested, he never admitted ownership of the said cannabis, as “it belongs” to Dawda Manneh, the first accused person.
The case was at that juncture adjourned till 29 June 2011.