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Musa Suso cross-examined in Ensa Badjie and co trial

Jun 9, 2011, 1:18 PM | Article By: Malamni Conteh

Musa Suso was yesterday cross-examined in the trial of former police chief Ensa Badjie, and former police prosecutor Tijan Badjie, at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court before acting-Principal Magistrate Taiwo Alagba.

Ensa Badjie and Tijan Badjie were earlier indicted on a four-count charge of conspiracy to defeat justice, destroying evidence, abuse of office and deceiving witness.

Testifying under cross-examination, Suso told the court that Burama Dibba’s case was heard and concluded at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court within a day, and he was acquitted and discharged.

Musa said his own case was rotating from Banjul to Bundung Magistrates’ Court, and he was later convicted and sentenced at the Bundung Magistrates’ Court.

It was then put to him by the second accused person that he (Tijan Badjie) prosecuted Burama Dibba, and he never called Musa to come and testify.

At that juncture, the second accused person applied to the court for the records, to prove that Suso was never a witness in that case, and his application was granted.

Suso further adduced that he was convicted on four counts for the allegations he made against David Colley, adding that before 2008 he was serving a long jail term and, before that, he was the National Assembly Member for Kombo North.

“I was alleged to be involved in drug trafficking, but I could not remember the exact kilo of drugs,” Musa told the court.

He further told the court that, in 2009, Tijan Badjie (the second accused person) asked him whether he wanted to change his statement, adding that he did not know what interest Tijan had in that, when he called him aside.

Tijan then put it to him that he did not call him aside. He said he found Suso sitting, and told him that “there was no need for you to change your statement because it was before the court”.

Still testifying under cross-examination, Suso told the court that the 1st accused pleaded with him to lie against former police chief Benedict Jammeh and Burama Dibba former head of the police prosecution unit.

He said Tijan asked him whether people did not come for him to go to the office of David Colley in order to change his statement, and he told Tijan that people came, but he refused to go.

He added that Tijan told him that he should go, because it was in his own interest.

Tijan put it to Suso that he (Suso) came to court and lied against him, because he prosecuted him, but Suso denied that, saying he has no cause to lie against them.

He said even in Mile 2 he gave food to the 1st accused, adding that he did not know whether Benedict Jammeh was treated as a tainted witness in his (Suso’s) trial.

The case at that juncture was adjourned till 15 June 2011.

Meanwhile, lawyer L.K. Mboge, counsel for the accused persons, has applied to withdraw from the case, which was granted.