The criminal trial of Lamin B. Jarju, the supposed Babylon alkalo, and one Bakary Hena Badjie, continued on Wednesday at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Edward Singhateh.
Lamin B. Jarju and Bakary Hena Badjie are being tried on charges of conspiracy to commit misdemeanors, making false document and giving false information.
Testifying for the prosecution, Malang Manneh, a CID police officer attached to the Brikama Police Station, told the court he had a copy of the minutes of the meeting that was held by the accused persons at KMC.
At that juncture, the prosecuting officer, Inspector Mballow, applied to tender the said copy for identification purposes, and it was admitted and marked as ID.
He said that after the investigation, he was ordered to charge the accused persons, adding that he took both the cautionary and voluntary statements from Bakary Hena Badjie in the presence of an independent witness, one Jerreh Bojang.
Officer Manneh further told the court that he read the cautionary wording to the accused in English, and it was translated to him in the local language, adding that the accused thumbprinted, the independent witness signed the statements and he (the witness) also endorsed the statements.
He added that it was later read all over to the accused again.
The cautionary and voluntary statements were both tendered and admitted as exhibits.
The case was then adjourned till 6 July 2011.
