Police assailants' trial continues

The criminal trial for common nuisance and assault involving Lamin Ceesay, Mariama Sambou, Nyima Ceesay, Fatou Ceesay, Isatou Bah, Awa Bah, Modou L. Ceesay and Modou Cham continued recently at the Brikama Magistrates' Court.

Testifying before magistrate B. Secka, the third prosecution witness, Paul Gomez, told the court that he is a police officer attached to the Brikama PIU.

According to Gomez, on 8th January 2010 he was on duty at the Brikama police station, when one Inspector Bajan requested for assistance, explaining that the drug squad officers went to arrest someone in Brikama, and that one of their personnel got injured.

He said that he called his commanding officer, ASP Cham, and informed him of the request of Inspector Bajan, who asked him to assemble the men and equip them with helmets and handcuffs.

He added that upon arrival at the scene, they met one Sarjo Ceesay who was armed with a cutlass, bottles and stones.

Further testifying, officer Gomez told the court that police corporal Samba Jawo and Corporal Alieu Colley advanced toward Sarjo Ceesay, who hit CPL Alieu Colley with a cutlass, and consequently injured him.

Officer Gomez added that when corporal Jawo grabbed the said Sarjo Ceesay, stones started coming from every corner of the compound, and he too sustained injuries on his head.

He said the suspect, Sarjo Ceesay, was later released due to the overwhelming crowd pressure, and they went back to the police station.

At the station, he added they proceed to the health centre for treatment, and others were later referred to the RVTH for further treatment.

The medical certificate was later tendered in court as an exhibit without any objection from the defence counsel.

According to the prosecution witness, on the same day after his treatment, he along with OC Buba Jassey, ASP Jawo and a drug squad officer went back to the compound of the suspect, and he identified the accused persons as the ones who threw stones at them.

He further revealed that the first accused person, Lamin Ceesay, was searched and seven (7) raps of cannabis were found in his possession.