Second witness testifies in editor Jobe and Co trial

The second prosecution witness in the trial involving the deputy editor-in-chief of the Daily Observer newspaper, Alhagie Jobe, and one Mbye Bittaye, yesterday testified before Justice Emmanuel Nkea of the Special Criminal Court in Banjul.

Baturu Ceesay told the court that he lives in Bundung in the same compound with the 1st accused, Alhagie Jobe, as they are both tenants in the compound.

He stated that he is not employed, and that he is a labourer and he knew the 1st accused person.

Ceesay told the court that on 9th February 2013, he was at home until around 12 midnight when Jobe came and bought Chinese Green tea, which they brewed, after which Jobe said he was going to bed, and he (the witness) also closed his door.

“I was lying in my bed when Jobe knocked at my door, and asked me to accompany him around Tallinding Primary School. We boarded his vehicle and went, but as the 1st accused slowed down his vehicle, we saw a pickup coming in our direction trying to block our vehicle,” Ceesay told the court.

“I suddenly saw people coming out of the vehicle, and the 1st accused opened the door of the vehicle and ran away. They chased him, and caught him, and brought him back to his vehicle,” he said.

The witness stated that in front of the vehicle where the driver sits, there was something like an envelope discovered there.

He said this was between the hours of 2 am to 3 am, and from there he and Jobe were rushed to the NIA.

The witness identified the photo of the 1st accused person’s vehicle, adding that a statement was recorded from him.

The case was at this stage adjourned to 31 July 2013, for cross-examination of PW2.

Alhagie Jobe is being tried on a five-count charge of making an act with seditious intention, seditious publication, and possession of seditious publication, giving false information to public servant, and reckless and negligent, while Mbye Bittaye is being tried on a single count of making preparation to do act with seditious intention.