Defence
counsel Combeh Gaye yesterday told the Banjul Magistrates’ Court before
Magistrate Omar Cham that “lawyers make worse witnesses”.
Counsel
Gaye made this statement when she found it difficult for Lawyer Omar Njie, the
second prosecution witness, to answer her questions the way she wanted, under
cross-examination.
When
the case was called, First Class 4415 Fatoumata Jallow stood up and told the
court that she was representing the IGP.
Lawyer
Combeh announced her representation for the accused.
First
Class Jallow then told the court that the actual prosecutor, Inspector S.
Sanyang, in the case, was on his feet in another court, adding that he had
asked for a fifteen-minute stand down.
The
defence counsel did not raise any objection.
The
magistrate then stood down the case for fifteen minutes.
When
the case resumed, the prosecution witness, lawyer Omar Njie, was given the
letter he wrote to read, which he did.
The
prosecutor then said that was all for the witness.
Under
cross-examination, Mr Njie was reminded that at the last sitting, he told the
court the aircraft was stationed at Banjul International Airport. He answered
in the positive.
He
was asked how long the aircraft was stationed there, and he said it was
stationed since 2000 because there was some litigation over the aircraft.
Asked
where at the airport the aircraft was stationed, Njie said it was stationed
within the airport premises, adding that there are no marks or labels at the
airport.
He
further stated that he had once visited the aircraft.
The
defence counsel told him that he would agree with her that access to the
airport is strictly controlled by the GCAA.
He
answered in the positive, adding that it is a controlled area.
It
was put to him that he was not an eyewitness to the removal of parts of the
aircraft, and that he was told about the removal of the parts of the aircraft.
In
response, he said he made it very clear that he received information that parts
of the aircraft were removed, and one of the engines was taken from the
aircraft.
He
said this was what he was told by lawyer Musa Bittaye.
Asked
whether Lawyer Bittaye works at the airport, Njie said Bittaye does not, adding
that Bittaye is a legal practitioner.
Asked
whether Mr Bittaye was present during the alleged removal, Njie responded that
he had no knowledge about that.
It
was put to Mr Njie that since he agreed that the airport is a controlled area;
therefore, it was absolutely certain that the individual who allegedly removed
parts of the aircraft got the approval of the GCAA.
Njie
said he had no knowledge as to how they managed to get access to a secured area
like Banjul International Airport, and removed the parts of the aircraft.
“You
never saw the accused remove anything from the aircraft in question,” counsel
Gaye put it to him.
“That
is correct,” the witness answered.
At
this juncture, the prosecutor applied for an adjournment, for the third
prosecution witness to be present for continuation of the hearing.
The
defence counsel did not raise any objection.
The
case was then adjourned until 19 September 2016.