The
Criminal trial involving former Justice minister Lamin AMS Jobarteh, former
Solicitor General Pa Harry Jammeh, and Dr Njogu Bah, the former Secretary
General Monday, continued at the Special Criminal Court in Banjul before
Justice Emmanuel NKea.
The three are being tried on a three-count charge which included conspiracy to carry out a lawful purpose by an unlawful means, giving false information to a public officer, and abuse of office.
ASP Lamin Cham, station officer at the police major crime unit, continued his testimony, and told the court that they also recovered a travel itinerary of Wowo, and two statements from Wowo.
The invitation to the Judicial Service Commission, the minutes of the meeting of the Judicial Service Commission, the handing over notes, letter of authority to act written by former Chief Justice Agim, letter of appointment of Joseph Wowo, President of the Gambia Court of Appeal, the charge sheet of Wowo at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, a nolle prosecue, and the order of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court in respect of the same trial, among others, were also recovered.
The Director of Special Litigation at the AG’s Chambers, Daniel O. Kulo, applied to tender them in evidence as exhibits, and they were admitted without any objection from the defence.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel E Jah, the witness disclosed that he asked the 2nd accused why he wrote the letter, and he responded that he was acting in his capacity as the Solicitor General and was authorised by the AG, and that they also confirmed this from the AG.
He added that the investigation panel was headed by one Edrissa Jobe, and he was deputizing for him, adding that after their investigation, they compiled the case file and sent it to the AG’s Chambers for legal advice.
The witness maintained that the panel cautioned the 3rd accused person and obtained a cautionary statement from him, but he was not sure whether a voluntary statement was obtained from him.
ASP Cham said exhibit E, which was a letter, emanated from the office of the Secretary General President’s Office.
“I did not know whether the 3rd accused person had the authority to appoint a magistrate, neither the termination of the acting-Chief Justice, because I did not know his functions as SG,” the police investigator told the court.
The case continues.
