The second
prosecution witness (PW2), Alieu Barry, yesterday continued his testimony in
the trial involving former Chief Justice Joseph Wowo and former Justice
minister Lamin AMS Jobarteh, at the Special Criminal Court in Banjul before
Justice Emmanuel Nkea.
Justice Wowo and Lamin A.M.S. Jobarteh were arraigned on a thirteen-count indictment which included abuse of office, conspiracy to defeat Justiceand interference with witnesses, offences relating to Judicial proceeding, to giving false informing to a public officer, which both denied.
During yesterday’s hearing of the matter, the state counsel informed the court that during the last sitting, they made an application for verification and identification for the CD, and for it to be played in court.
However, defence counsel L.S. Camara objected to the prosecution’s application for the CD to be played in order for the witness to identify it.
He argued that they could not go into the content of a document which was not yet admitted, and he also objected to the admissibility of the CD.
Counsel Camara added that the witness told the court that he recorded the conversation of the meeting on a mobile phone and downloaded it on the computer and then on the CD.
Counsel also objected to admission of the transcribed copy of the CD, and urged the court to refuse the application.
However, the CD and its transcribed copy were finally admitted for ID purposes.
Alieu Barry continued his testimony, and said, “I downloaded the recordings on the laptop which was a new one and latest type window seven, which belongs to my nephew. I used it for my school activities.”
Barry added that after producing the CD, he did not do anything with the laptop.
The state counsel then applied to tender it to be admitted in evidence, which was again objected to by the defence counsel, L.S. Camara.
The case at that juncture was adjourned to today for ruling.