Police officers testify in Bun & co trial

Two police officers: Salieu Gomez and Momodou Sillah, yesterday testified as prosecution witnesses in the trial involving Ibrahim Bun Sanneh, former NDEA Executive Director and four others, at the high court in Banjul before Justice Emmanuel Amadi.

The other accused persons are deputy NDEA Executive Director, Karamo Bojang, Operations Commander Ousman Sanneh, Sedou Bojang NDEA's accountant, and one Marie Sanneh.

Testifying earlier, Salieu Gomez (PW5) told the court that he is a police officer attached to the Serious Crime Unit at police headquarters.

According to him, on 29th March 2010, he was instructed to obtain a cautionary statement from the 1st accused, Ibrahim Bun Sanneh, which he did in the presence of an independent witness.

He said the accused wrote his own statement, and signed it, as well the independent witness which, he also endorsed as the officer who cautioned the accused.

Officer Gomez further adduced that he obtained four voluntary statements from the 1st accused.

The cautionary and the voluntary statements of the 1st accused were later admitted by the court as exhibits, without any objection from the defence counsel.

Also testifying, Momodou Sillah (PW3), who was recalled by the prosecution, told the court that he obtained a cautionary statement from the 1st accused in the presence of an independent witness. He said the 1st accused wrote his own statement.

According to PW3, on 1st April 2010, he obtained another statement from the 1st accused.

He added that on 21st April 2010, he also obtained voluntary statement from the 1st accused.

Further testifying, Officer Sillah told the court that on 1st, 2nd, 20th and 21st April 2010, he obtained voluntary statements from the 2nd accused, Karamo Bojang.

The voluntary statements of the 2nd accused person were later admitted by the court as exhibits, without any objections from the defence.

The case was then adjourned to 12th July 2010 for continuation of the hearing.