The former Governor of the West Coast Region, Abdou F.M. Badjie, was on Monday cross-examined by defence counsel, Buba Jawo, counsel for Busura alkalo Omar Faye, who is on trial at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court for abuse of office.
Under cross-examination, Badjie told the court that he visited the said land in dispute, but did not know the cause of the dispute.
He further stated that it is the Jarju Kunda family that owned the land in dispute. This was in response to Jawo’s question about who owns the disputed plot of land.
Asked by counsel whether all the land in Marakissa village belongs to the Jarju Kunda family, Badjie said it was not to his knowledge.
Badjie also said that he received a petition from the Jarju kunda family, who claimed ownership of the disputed land.
Counsel Jawo then put it him that the courts in the country had decided on the disputed land, but Badjie said he had no idea.
Told by the defence counsel that Dembo Jarju, the former APRC chairman, had a vested interest that was why he could not solve the problem, Badjie in response stated that Dembo Jarju is a good citizen who can mediate between people.
Also testifying, Jung Colley, the seventh prosecution witness, stated that he is a resident of Marakisa, and knew Malang Jarju and Modou Jarju.
He said he could remember what happened between 2004 and 2010 and, when asked by the prosecutor why he was in court, he said he did not know, because he was called by the prosecution.
When he was asked again whether he knew why the accused was in court, PW7 said he did not know why the accused was in court.
He said he could not remember whether, between 2004 and 2010, he gave a statement at the police station.
The prosecutor wanted to put it to him that he gave a statement to the police, but the defence counsel objected on the grounds that the witness said he did not go to any police station to give any statement.
Counsel Jawo further contended that the prosecution cannot force the witness or put words in his mouth.
The court upheld the defence objection.
At that juncture, the case was adjourned till 16 March 2011.
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