Detective
Sgt 5241 Alhagie K. Manneh yesterday testified as the 2nd prosecution witness,
in the ongoing trial involving the state against the former petroleum minister
Sira Wally Ndow-Njai and nine others, before Justice O. Ottaba of the High
Court in Banjul.
The
accused persons are Sira Wally Ndow-Njai, Momodou O.S. Badjie, Fafa Sanyang,
Cherno Marena, Seedy Kanyi, Muntaga Momodou Sallah, Momodou Taal, Louie Moses
Mendy, Noah Touray and Madun Sanyang.
When
the case was called, the DPP S.H. Barkum informed the court that the 2nd
prosecution witness was in court.
In
his evidence, the witness told the court that he knew the accused persons,
adding that he recorded the cautionary and voluntary statements of the 1st
accused, Sira Wally Ndow-Njai, the 2nd accused person, Momodou O.S. Badjie, the
4th accused, Cherno Marena and the 7th accused, Momodou Taal.
The
DPP then led the witness in examination-in-chief and asked him what transpired
between him and the accused persons.
“I
was briefly introduced to the accused persons thereafter confrontation began,
that is to shed light on the allegations.”
“As
a police officer, what did you normally do when you want to obtain cautionary
statements from suspects?”
“They
were cautioned in the presence of an independent witness.”
“After
that what did you do?”
“They
choose to write their statements, and upon completing their statements, they
signed, the independent witness signed and I also signed.”
“Which
statements are you referring to?”
“The
cautionary and the voluntary statements.”
“If
you come across the statements you referred to, how would you identify them?”
“My
name appears in the statements.”
At
this point, defence counsel R.Y. Mendy urged the court to impress on the
witness to speak loud to the hearing of the court.
The
presiding judge then ordered the witness to speak louder so that the people
around the verandah could hear him.
He
was given bundles of documents which he identified, and the DPP applied to
tender the said statements.
Three
cautionary statements and four voluntary statements of the 1st accused, Sira
Wally Ndow-Njie were admitted in evidence and marked as exhibits without any
objection from the defence team led by lawyer A.A.B. Gaye.
Four
cautionary statements and three voluntary statements of the 2nd accused,
Momodou O.S. Badjie were admitted in evidence and marked as exhibits without
any objection from the defence team led by lawyer L.S. Camara.
Four
cautionary statements of the 4th accused person, Cherno Marena, were admitted
in evidence and marked as exhibits without any objection from the defence team
led by lawyer A.N.D. Bensouda.
The
five cautionary statements and three voluntary statements of the 7th accused
person, Momodou Taal, were also admitted in evidence and marked as exhibits
without any objection from the defence team led by lawyer C.E. Mene.
At
this juncture, DPP S.H. Barkum intimated to the court that he was done with the
witness.
Hearing
continues today at 3pm.
