In Ex-IGP Badjie robbery trial, 11th witness cross-examined

The robbery trial of former Inspector General of Police Ensa Badjie, and Superintendent of Prison Ali Ceesay yesterday continued before Justice Ikpala of the Special Criminal Court with the cross-examination of the eleventh prosecution witness, Inspector Abdoulie Sowe, a detective officer attached to Kotu Police Station.

Under cross-examination, the witness told the court that the case file for an alleged motorcycle theft was compiled by Corporal Mansour Saine at the charge office, and later at his office. He added that the case was also investigated by the CID and not him.

Sowe admitted that he was posted to Bakadaji Police Station at the time the 1st accused person, Ensa Badjie, was the Inspector General of Police. He also told the court that on the following day, after Ramsis was granted bail, the first accused came and retrieved the sureties ID card.

Defence counsel Borry S. Touray then put it to the witness that the 6th prosecution witness, Fatou Mendy, told the court that she received her ID card two weeks later, and not the following day.

Sowe also confirmed that one Binta Ngum was also transferred to Soma Police Station at the time when the 1st accused was the IGP. However, he denied knowing whether his transfer and that of Binta Ngum were effected simultaneously. He told the court that he had no grudge against the 1st accused regarding his transfer to Bakadaji Police Station.

Counsel Touray further put it to the witness that he (the witness) was annoyed about his transfer to Bakadaji Police Station because the said Binta Ngum was his girl friend. The state prosecutor M Abdullahi rose and objected to that statement, which was upheld by the presiding judge.

Continuing his testimony under cross-examination, the witness said he bore no malice against the 1st accused. Sowe went on to say that the said Binta Ngum was never his girl friend, adding that their relationship was personal.

Counsel also put it to the witness that he was having an affair with Binta Ngum, a statement the state prosecutor again objected to, which was also upheld by the trial judge.

The witness told the court that he did not give the case file to Seyfo Sanyang of the Serrekunda Police Station, but instead to Ensa Badjie. He also asserted that it was the 1st accused who advised Ramsis to leave the country.

Told by counsel that it was out of malice that he (the witness) came to court to lie against the 1st accused, the witness replied, "No".

He adduced that he never knew that the 1st accused endorsed the case to be prosecuted.

The case was at that juncture adjourned till the 26th November.

Former IGP Badjie and Ali Ceesay were arraigned at the court after being indicted on different counts, including conspiracy to commit a felony, robbery with violence, receiving stolen property, aiding and abetting, robbery, conspiracy to commit misdemeanour, aiding prisoner to escape, official corruption, conspiracy to defeat justice and interference with witnesses, deceiving witnesses, offences relating to judicial proceeding, and using criminal charms, among others.

The case has so far heard the testimonies of eleven prosecution witnesses.

The other witnesses in the trial include the principal witness Soriba Condeh, said to be a convict serving a jail term, Pateh Jallow, the former deputy chief at the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA), Muhammed Sillah, a police officer, Muhammed Darboe, a convict, Tony Baba Khan, proprietor of City Pub Bar and Restaurant, Fatou Mendy, Amadou Jallow, and Salieu Baldeh, another convict, among others.