Trial of soldier found with pistol progresses

The trial of Babucarr Njie, the soldier found with a pistol at King Fahd Mosque in Banjul, proceeded on 6 June 2017, before Magistrate Janneh-Njie of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court.

Sub-Inspector Bojang called his third witness to testify.

Ebrima Fatty, the witness, told the court that he lives at New Yundum, and he is a civil servant under the Office of the President as a logistic officer.

He said he recognised the accused at Kairaba Beach Hotel.

He stated that he could remember the 10 February 2017, adding that they were in a convoy going for the Friday prayers.

He testified that his vehicle was full with people while the accused entered, adding that he did not speak to the accused who joined the other people in the car.

He adduced that the accused was asked by those in the vehicle as to where he was going, and he said he was going to attend the Friday prayers.

Mr Fatty testified that they alighted from the vehicle when they arrived at the King Fahd Mosque, adding that they rushed to the mosque while their ID cards were with them.

He posited that after prayers, they heard that somebody was caught with a pistol.

He further testified that at the Kairaba Beach Hotel they found out on which car the accused boarded and he told them that he gave him lift, adding that he gave out his statement to the police when he was called by one police officer.

The said statement was given to him to identify, which he did.

The prosecutor applied to tender the statement, and the defence counsel, Sheriff Kumba Jobe, did not raise any objection.

Under cross-examination, he was reminded that he told the court that he is working at the Office of the President, and he answered in the positive.

He was also reminded that the Office of the President is under the civil service. He was asked by the defence counsel as to who appointed him as a member of staff under the Office of the President.

In reply, the witness said that they are there for an attachment.

He was challenged that he was not appointed by any person under the authority of the Office of the President.

He answered in the positive.

He was asked whether he is under the payroll of the government, and he said they do not receive salaries because they are under attachment.

It was put to him that anyone working under the Office of the President is duly appointed to act on that portfolio, but he maintained that they are under attachment.

It was put to him that he said that on 10 February 2017, he gave lift to the accused. He was asked how many people were in the car, and he said that they were about five.

He was asked where the fifth person alighted, and he said at the mosque.

It was put to him that from Kairaba Beach Hotel to the mosque, there were four people in the car.

He answered in the positive.

He was reminded that his vehicle was licenced to carry four passengers and was further put to him that where he carried four people, there was no overloading. He replied in the positive.

It was put to him that he stated in his evidence that the accused did not speak to him when he, the witness, gave him a lift to Banjul.

He answered in the positive.

He was asked whether the unknown person he mentioned in his statement at the police was the accused. He said the accused was among the people he gave lift.

It was put to him that since the accused did not speak to him and he too did not speak to him. He was then asked how did he know that it was the accused he gave lift.

He said he recognised him when the accused went to the hotel.

It was put to him that the accused did not terrorise anybody, himself and any other person, and the public.

In reply, he said he knew nothing about that.

At this juncture, the case was adjourned until 13 and 15 June 2017.