Police officer testifies in court

Lamin Badjie, a police officer recently testified at the Brikama Magistrates' Court before Magistrate B. Secka in the ongoing criminal trial of willful damage to property involving Nuha Jatta, Ousman Janneh and Modou Sanyang.

Testifying before the court, the prosecution witness Lamin Badjie informed the court that he is a police officer attached to Tujereng Police Station.

According to 1st Class 2735 Badjie, on 12th April 2010, he was on duties with his relieved commander, Cpl 345 Sowe, at the Tujereng Police Station when one Francis J Mendy and Francis Mendy lodged a complaint that some people were cutting down their cashew trees.

He adduced that when they arrived at the scene, they found the 2nd accused, Modou Sanyang and the 3rd accused, Ousman Janneh cutting down the cashew trees, and asked them to stop.

Officer Badjie further stated that the cashew trees the accused were cutting was on the highway, 2.5m away from the fence of the 1st accused, Nuha Jatta.

According to Officer Badjie, he enquired from the accused persons whether they had the consent of the physical planning authorities. In reply, he said they responded in the negative. He said they then took photos of the scene and arrested all the accused persons.

At that juncture, the police prosecutor, Sgt. 1260 A Colley applied to tender the said photos in court as exhibits, and his application was granted without any objections by the defence counsel.

The case was then adjourned to 15th July 2010.