Third prosecution witness testifies in Foroyaa messenger’s trial

Sally Jassey, who is the third prosecution witness in the sedition trial involving Mass Kah, a Foroyaa messenger, yesterday testified before Magistrate Isatou Janneh at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.

In her testimony, she told the court that she lives at Bakoteh and is a hairdresser, adding that she recognized the accused person.

She said that on 14 November 2014, she and the first prosecution witness, Lamin Camara, went to a tailoring workshop at Latrikunda.

On their arrival, she continued, they did not find the tailor, and the tailor’s apprentice told them that he was not available.

She said that when she was leaving the workshop, she found the accused at the door of the workshop. Then the first witness, Lamin Camara, had gone to paste the photo of the President on his car.

She testified that the accused then told Camara that if he wanted he could paste the photo in heaven.

She told the court that it was the accused who said that it is only Halifa Sallah who wears a pair of trousers, and it was only Halifa Sallah who can write.

Ms Jassey further stated that the accused also said that the President cannot write, adding that Lamin Camara and the accused quarreled.

She narrated that they later proceeded to the Latrikunda German Police, and reported the matter.

At this juncture, the photo of the president was shown to her, which she identified.

Under cross-examination, the defence counsel, Lamin S. Camara, asked her: “You said you went to Latrikunda German Police to make a statement.” “Yes,” she answered.

“How many statements did you make?” “One,” the witness said.

“When did you make the statement to the police?”

“On the 14 November 2013,” she replied.

“Would you be surprised that Lamin Camara did not say that the accused said if he liked he could paste the photo of the President on the sky?” “I will be surprised,” she answered.

“Do you know that the statement: ‘If you like you can paste the photo in heaven’ and ‘pasting it on the sky’ are different?”

“The accused said if you like you can paste it on the sky,” she answered.

At this juncture, the defence counsel told the witness that “pasting it in heaven” and “pasting it on the sky” are two different things.  “The accused said if you like you can paste it in heaven,” she told the court.

The case was then adjourned to 14 January 2014, for continuation.

According to the particulars of offence, the accused, Mass Kah, on 14 November 2013, between the hours of 16:00 hrs and 17:00hrs, at Latrikunda German, within the K.M.C. and diverse areas, with willful intention, uttered a statement against the president’s photo which one Lamin Camara was pasting on his vehicle opposite a tailoring workshop, saying: “Why not paste the said photo of H.E. the president on the sky?” and thereby committed an offence.