The Chief of Kombo South, Mr. Sheriff M Janneh known as Aja Janneh and Hon. Paul Mendy, the National Assembly Member for Kombo South, recently testified at the Brikama Magistrates' Court as the sixth and seventh prosecution witnesses in the ongoing trial of giving false information to a public officer, involving one Karafa Sanneh, the former Manager of Siffoe Farm.
Testifying before Principal Magistrate J.A. Effirm, Mr. Janneh told the court that he is a resident of Gunjur village and is the Head Chief of Kombo South. He adduced that he knows the accused, Karafa Sanneh and could recall sometimes in the months of October and November 2008.
According to him, sometimes in that period one Honourable Paul Mendy had called him to inform him that Modou Sanyang, the Director General of GRTS told him that he was sent by the President to the people of Sayone village and needed his company.
Mr. Janneh further adduced that Modou Sanyang told the Alkalo of Sayone village and his people that, the President said he had returned the rice field to the people of Sayone for them to manage it on their own, "as the farming they are doing is for the whole
Chief Janneh testified that they also found 49 bags of rice and 10 bags of coos at Sayone village, and that he and the Governor of Western Region later went back to Sayone village with GRTS to take photos of the 47 bags of rice and 10 bags of coos.
He adduced that he later called the Governor and asked him whether the people of Sayone had brought the rice, which the Governor confirmed.
Also testifying as the seventh prosecution witness, Hon Paul Mendy told the court that he lives at Mariama Kunda and he knows the accused, Karafa Sanneh. Hon Mendy told the court that sometimes in the months of October and November 2009, he received a telephone call from Modou Sanyang, the Director General of GRTS that he was sent by the President to the Alkalo of Sayone village and his people, and that he wanted him and the Chief to accompany him.
Hon. Mendy further testified that before going there, Modou Sanyang told him to wait for him at the Governor's Office in Brikama, as he called Lamin Bojang, the National Assembly Member for Kombo East to also join them.
Further testifying Hon. Mendy told the court that a few minutes later Modou Sanyang arrived in and informed him that he had called the accused, Karafa Sanneh, the former Manager of Siffoe Farm to join them at Sayone village by 4:00pm.
Still testifying before the court, Mr. Mendy told the court that Mr. Sanyang told the people of Sayone that they were there on the President's instruction, to inform them that from that day the rice field would be given back to them.
Hon. Mendy told the court that Modou Sanyang later told the accused that his role was to see to it that the work is accordingly done, and to provide them with the tractor whenever the need arises. He adduced that he himself had given a piece of advice to the accused not to go beyond his role, of which he said, the accused agreed to adhere to the President's instruction.
After the testimony of both the witnesses, the counsel for the accused, Buba Jawo told the court that he had no question for the witnesses.
The case was at this point adjourned to a later date.
