The
trial of Babucarr Njie, a soldier who was found with a pistol at King Fahd
Mosque, continued on 23 March 2017 before magistrate Janneh-Njie of the Banjul
Magistrates’ Court.
When
the case was called, police prosecutor sub-Inspector Abdoulie Bojang
represented the IGP.
Sheriff
Kumba Jobe, the defence counsel, represented the accused person.
Prosecutor
Bojang called Jally Senghore, a police officer, to testify.
The
witness told the court he lives in Banjul, and is attached to the Major Crime
Unit.
Senghore
testified that on 10 February 2017, the accused was brought before him for
interrogation at the unit.
He
cautioned the accused and obtained his statements in the presence of one
Fabakary Kinteh, an independent witness.
He
read the statements in Wollof to the accused, and the independent witness and
accused person then signed the statements, which he too signed.
The
statements were shown to the witness to identify, which he did.
Prosecutor
Bojang then applied to tender the documents, and the defence counsel did not
object.
The
presiding magistrate consequently admitted the documents.
Under
cross-examination, the witness said he had been a police officer for seven
years, and was attached to the Major Crime Unit seven years ago.
He
has experience in investigation, but would not be able to tell the court the
official working hours, as there were no specific working times at his
workplace.
He
added that he did not investigate the matter, but recorded the statements of
the accused, in his role as a supervisor.
The
accused was taken to the ECOMIG head office, he further told the court, but did
not know how long the accused spent there, and could not remember the time the
accused was arrested.
The
statements were obtained during the day, and it was on 10 February 2017. He was
not sure if the accused was literate, but the accused asked him to record his
statements.
The
prosecution witness was surprised to hear that the independent witness said he
(Senghore) only recorded the statements of the accused, but did not ask the
accused to write his own statement.
The
first time he met the accused was on 10 February 2017, and the procedure and
manner of recording the statements was not contrary to the Judges’ Rule.
All
what he said was the truth, Senghore further told the court.
The
case was adjourned until 30 March 2017, for defence in the voire dire (trial
within a trial).
