The trial
involving 14 UDP supporters proceeded yesterday before Principal Magistrate
Dayoh Small of the Brikama Magistrates’ Court, with the testimonies of two more
prosecution witnesses.
Testifying earlier, Sambou Singhateh, a police officer attached to Tujereng Police Station, said on 14 February 2014 he was on duty when his station officer arrived with some police officers, and asked him to join them to Madiana for a mission.
He said on their arrival, they found men and women sitting on plastic chairs in a circle under a mango tree on the roadside, where they found a man who was later identified as Foday Gassama addressing the gathering.
He said Gassama was saying that they as Gambians should not be scared to show that they are UDP militants.
Designated as the third prosecution witness (PW3), officer Singhateh said SO ASP Bahoum greeted the gathering, and asked Gassama whether there was any permit obtained for the meeting and whether the alkalo was informed.
He said Gassama replied in the negative, adding that ASP Bahoum later told them to report to the station for questioning, and they refused.
He said there was a push and pull between them, and they were able to arrest only Jerreh Fatty, Lamin F. Sonko, Lamin Marong, Fakebba Colley and Foday Gassama, and the rest later reported to the police.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel Darboe, who asked the witness if it was correct that when they arrived at Madiana, they found the 3rd accused saying that they as UDP militants should not fear to say it, and the witness answered in the affirmative.
“In this country should anyone fear to show that they belong to a particular party?”
“No”
“Did you ask your SO if there is any law that says you must have a permit before holding political meetings?”
“No”
“Did you also ask your SO whether any alkalo, including the one in Madiana, must be informed before having a meeting?”
“No”
“You said on 14 February 2014, five people were arrested, how did they spend the night?”
“Three spent the night at Gunjur, and the rest spent it at Sanyang.”
“Who ordered them to do that?”
“I did not know.”
Lamin Sanneh, a police officer also testified and told the court that he knew Lamin Njai, Yaya Njai, Kawsu Jaiteh and Wandifa Kinteh.
He added that on 15 February 2014, he read the cautionary wordings to Kawsu Jaiteh and Wandifa Kinteh in the presence of an independent witness, and the accused persons thumb-printed and he endorsed the statement. He said he also took the voluntary statements.
The cautionary and voluntary statements of Wandifa Kinteh were identified by the witness and were admitted by the court and marked as exhibits, without any objection from the defence counsel.The matter was adjourned to 2 April 2014.