Babucarr
Njie, a soldier who was found with a pistol at the King Fahd Mosque, on 30
March 2017, testified in a voire dire before Magistrate Isatou Janneh-Njie of
the Banjul Magistrates’ Court.
Sub-Inspector
Abdoulie Bojang represented the IGP and Sheriff Kumba Jobe announced his
representation for the accused.
Babucarr
Njie told the court that he is a soldier who lives in New Yundum.
The
sergeant, as he ranked himself, stated that what the independent witness and
another witness said about the cautionary and voluntary statements was “not
true”.
He
said the incident happened on a Friday, 10 February 2017, between 1p.m. and
2p.m. around the King Fahd Mosque.
He
testified that he was arrested by the ECOMIG soldiers, adding that he was taken
to their main base at Fajara Barracks.
Mr
Njie posited that he was there from 2p.m. to 8p.m., and was interrogated,
adding that three police officers from Banjul came and picked him from there.
He
adduced that they interrogated him and checked his mobile phone to see whether
he was communicating with someone.
He
said that PW1, Mr Senghore, came and took him to his office and put him in
handcuff and asked him to give his statement if not, something would happen to
him.
Njie
adduced that he was cautioned before he gave out his statement, adding that he
was then put into cell.
He
testified that two people were present, namely Jally Senghore and one Malick.
At
this juncture, the defence counsel gave him a copy of one of the statements and
he said it was recorded at 10: 42p.m, adding that he signed it on a Monday, 13
February 2017.
Njie
narrated that Senghore and the independent witness were present at the Major
Crime Unit, adding that the independent witness did not ask him whether he was
tortured.
He
said that after signing the documents, he was arraigned before the court,
adding that Jally Senghore was the one who investigated the matter, although he
said he did.
Under
cross-examination, he posited that he was arrested by an ECOMIG soldier and a
Senegalese soldier, adding that the independent witness was present when he
signed his statements and cautioned.
He
further adduced that it was true he was taken to an office and handcuffed.
Njie
maintained that Jally Senghore investigated the matter.
The
defence counsel then rose and announced he was closing their case in the voire
dire.
The
case continues.
