Foroyaa messenger’s trial commences

The sedition trial involving Mass Kah, a Foroyaa messenger, on 6 January 2014 commenced before Magistrate Isatou Janneh of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, when prosecutor, Sergeant 335 Nying, called her first witness to testify.

The witness, Lamin Camara, told the court that he lives at Lamin village and is a driver, and that he recognized the accused person.

He adduced that on 14 November 2013, he went to Latrikunda German at a tailoring workshop with two women.

He further stated that he parked his vehicle opposite a tailoring workshop, adding that he alighted from his vehicle, and he took out two pictures of the President.

Camara testified that a man was sitting inside the workshop, chatting with the tailor.

He said when he pasted the pictures on the windscreen of his car, the accused asked him why he was pasting the pictures on the windscreen while he, the accused, was sitting.

He adduced that he told the accused that he, the witness, did not know him.

Camara further said that the accused told him that he is a supporter of Halifa Sallah’s party and why should he paste the pictures, adding that the accused started insulting him.

He testified that the accused told him that all Gambians are wearing a woman’s wrapper, and that it is only Halifa Sallah who wears a pair of trousers.

He further narrated that he told the accused that, then he should go to Halifa Sallah to give him employment.

He said the accused told him that the President cannot write, adding that he reported the matter to the police station.

The prosecutor applied to tender the picture of the president after it was identified by the witness.

Defence counsel Lamin S. Camara did not raise any objection. The picture was admitted by the court.

The witness further narrated that he made a statement.

The defence counsel under cross-examination asked, “You said you made a statement at the police?”

“Yes,” the witness replied.

“Is this your statement?” the defence counsel enquired.

“Yes,” answered the witness.

Lamin S. Camara then applied to tender the statement as a defence exhibit.

The prosecutor did not raise any objection. The said statement was admitted by the court.

The second witness, Modou Jagne, said he lives at Latrikunda German and he is a tailor, adding that he recognized the accused.

He stated that it happened on 14 November 2013, between 4p.m and 5 p.m. when a woman came with her vehicle and parked opposite his workshop.

He said the woman greeted him and he responded, adding that she was asking for one Alagie Njie.

Mr Jagne stated that he told her that Alagie Njie went to Sukuta for a naming ceremony.

He further said that she told him she gave Alagie Njie some material to sew for her, and came to collect the remaining material or cloth, adding that they searched for the remaining material.

He added that she went to one Awa Sallah who introduced her to Alagie Njie, and Awa Sallah gave her the remaining material, adding that she left him and he continued his work.

He further testified that he saw the accused and the first witness quarreling, but did not know what happened.

The defence counsel rose and said he had no questions for the witness.

The prosecutor applied for an adjournment to call her next witness.

Her application was granted and the case was adjourned till today.

According to the particulars of offence, the accused, Mass Kah, on 14 November 2013, between 16:00 hrs and 17:00hrs, at Latrikunda German, within the K.M.C. and diverse areas, with willful intention, uttered a statement against the president’s photo which one Lamin Camara was pasting on his vehicle opposite a tailoring workshop, saying: “Why not paste the photo of H.E. the president on the sky?” and thereby committed an offence.