#Article (Archive)

Trial of Ensa Badjie and Co continues

Jul 1, 2011, 11:38 AM | Article By: Malamin Conteh

The robbery trial involving former police chief Ensa Badjie and chief Superintendent of Prison, Ali Ceesay, continued yesterday at the Special Criminal Court in Banjul before Justice Ikpala.

Ensa Badjie and Ali Ceesay were arraigned after being indicted on different counts, including conspiracy to commit a felony, robbery with violence, receiving stolen property, aiding and abetting, robbery, conspiracy to commit misdemeanour, aiding prisoner to escape, official corruption, conspiracy to defeat justice and interference with witnesses, deceiving witnesses, and offences relating to judicial proceeding.

Testifying, the defence witness four (DW4) Dodou Touray, told the court that he is a driver and a prison warder, adding that he knows the accused persons in the case.

He adduced that ASP Abdoulie Bojang once came to him and told him that he wanted to see Chief Superintendent Ali ceesay, the second accused, because Ensa Badjie and Soriba Condeh were not in good terms.

 According to him, Bojang told the 2nd accused that Ensa and Soriba were not in good terms, and that he wanted to move Soriba to the main yard, but the 2nd accused insisted not to move him because Soriba is serving a long sentence.

He added that the 2nd accused then said if anybody provoked anyone, he shall be confined in a cell, adding that he then returned to his guard post at the security wing of the confinement section.

He said, later, Soriba came to him, and told him that Ali Ceesay had threatened him, because he was not in good terms with Ensa Badjie.

He said that he told Soriba that “Ali was only advising you to stay away from Ensa Badjie”.

Under cross-examination, the witness told the court that Ensa told him that he was insulted by Soriba, but he had never seen Soriba insulting Ensa.

 He admitted that all what he had said was hearsay.

The case was then adjourned till 5 July 2011.