Ebrima Marreh the principal witness for the prosecution has said he had a disagreement about money with former CDS Lt. General Lang Tombong Tamba. The witnessed is presently being cross-examined by defence counsel in the ongoing treason trial under way at the High Court in Banjul.
When the court resumed on Wednesday, and it was put to him that he took a cheque belonging to Lt. General Tamba "went to the bank and cashed the cheque without anybody's permission", Marreh said "Yes".
However, when the defence counsel said: "In other words, you stole the cheque without the owners knowledge?" the witness said "No".
When the counsel for the defence further asked whether "after it was found out" he was "locked-up in Fajara Barracks?" Marreh answered "Yes."
He also agreed that the amount on the cheque collected from Lt. General Tamba's supermarket was D28,000 and that the cheque was cashed at Access Bank.
What follows are the Questions and Answers in the cross-examination of the witness by defence counsel beginning on Tuesday:
Cross-examination by defence counsel for Lt. General Lang Tombong, Col. Kawsu Camara (Bombardier) and Abdoulie Joof, Sheriff Tambedou:
Q- What is your date of birth?
A- I do not know.
Q- How old are you?
A- 20 years.
Q- Where were you born?
A- I was born in Bwiam (in the Western Region).
Q- What is your occupation?
A- Student.
Q- Which school did you attend?
A- Jollof Tutors.
Q- What did you study there?
A- Banking and Finance.
Q- Are you still attending Jollof Tutors?
A- No.
Q- So is it correct to say that you are no longer a student?
A- I am still a student.
Q- At the time you claimed to have attended meetings with some accused persons, was Bwiam your address?
A- No, that was not my address.
Q- What was your address?
A- Kololi.
Q- Where in Kololi?
A- In Kololi Tavern.
Q- Is Kololi Tavern an inn or motel?
A- It is not either.
Q- Can you tell the period you attended Jollof Tutors?
A- It was for a duration of one week at the time I attended Jollof Tutors.
Q- During this one week did you attend any class?
A- Yes
Q- Did you pay for you attendance?
A- Yes.
Q- How much did you pay?
A- D9, 575
Q- On the 22nd March 2010 in your evidence in chief you said the accused persons had series of meetings concerning the coup plot and you were present in some of the meetings?
A- Yes.
Q- How many meetings did they have?
A- Three.
Q- Can you remember the date of the first and second meetings?
A- No.
Q- What happened at the third meeting? Can you remember the date?
A- No.
Q- Do you remember how long the meeting took?
A- I cannot remember.
Q- You said the first two meeting took place at Kololi and the third in Bijilo?
A- Yes.
Q- Apart from those you said were present in the said meetings, was any other person present in the house?
A- Yes there were people inside the house.
Q- And who were these people?
A- I don't know.
Q- Did you observe the presence of soldiers in the said house?
A- No.
Q- Do you know that the former CDS had a four-man guard at his house 24 hours?
A- That was the time he was active in service.
Q- And when did he stop being active in the service?
A- 2009.
Q- You said that when you were arrested in Farafenni, you were interrogated, and you said that you said the truth?
A- I did say I spoke the truth.
Q- Do you remember making a statement?
A- Yes.
Q- Did you remember making a statement about this case ?
A- Yes.
Q- How many?
A- Two.
Q- When?
A- Early November 2009.
Q- Where?
A- Farafenni Army Barracks and the NIA
Q- Did you make your statement voluntarily?
A- Yes.
Q- In your evidence-in-chief, you did say you went to your friend Kuluteh Manneh?
A- Yes.
Q- When did you start to becomes friends?
A- Around October 2009.
Q- Do you know that Kuluteh Manneh made a statement in this case?
A- Yes.
Q- Did you know that Kuluteh Manneh in his statement said that he did not know you?
A- No, I don't know.
Q- In your statement in November 2009, you made mention that you had a disagreement with former CDS, and that you apologized and the matter was settled?
A- Yes.
Q- What was the disagreement about?
A- It was about a money problem?
Q- What sort of money problem?
A- I took his money and lent it to Kawsu Camara (Bombardier).
Q- How did you take this money?
A- In his supermarket at Kololi?
Q- Did anybody see you?
A- No.
Q- Was this money cash?
A- No, it was a cheque.
Q- To whom the cheque was paid to?
A- To the cashier.
Q- Then you went to the bank and cashed the cheque without anybody's permission?
A- Yes.
Q- In other words, you stole the cheque without the owners knowledge?
A- No.
Q- After it was found out you were locked-up in Fajara Barracks?
A- Yes.
Q- Did you know the late Musa Jammeh?
A- No.
Q- Were you ever locked up at Kanilai Camp?
A- No.
Q- Were you ever accused of breaking down the door of the late Musa Jammeh?
A- No.
Q- Was a complaint ever made against you by Mr. Amadou Samba?
A- No.
Q- Was a complaint ever made against you by Mayor Yankuba Colley?
A- I am not aware of such complaints.
Q- Are you also aware of a complaint made against you by one Turro Darboe?
A- No.
Q- You said on your way to Farafenni you spent the night at Kanilai?
A- Yes.
Q- On what date?
A- On a Wednesday.
Q- Did you say this in your statement?
A- I cannot remember.
Q- Did you remember the date you arrived at Farafenni?
A- No, I cannot remember.
Q- I put it to you that you did not spend the night in the company of Kawsu Camara (Bombardier).
A- I spent the night there.
Q- Did you know the work of Kawsu Camara?
A- He was the commander of border patrol and in charge of fuel.
Q- Did you know that every Friday the 4th accused collects fuel in Kombo?
A- I am not aware.
Q- How much was the amount on the cheque you collected from General Tamba's Supermarket?
A- I cannot remember.
Q- In what bank did you cash the cheque?
A- Access Bank.
Q- I put it to you that the amount on that cheque was D28,000?
A- Yes.
Q- Do you know Oussu Camara?
A - Yes I know him.
Q- You said earlier you made two statements?
A- Yes.
Q- What document are you holding in your hand?
A- My statement.
Q- Mr. Marreh you mean you made another statement, other than the one you are holding?
A- No.
Q- Are there signatures on each of the statements?
A- Yes.
Q- Are they your signature?
A- Yes.
Q- In the statement you made have you mention the name of Abdoulie Joof at all?
A- Yes, but the paper is not there, in the statement I am holding.
Q- What date is on the statement?
A- 21st November.
Q- You said there is a page missing, is that page 7?
A- Yes.
Q- To whom did you made these statements?
A- At the NIA.
Q- Do the NIA have all the documents?
A- I don't know.
Q- Mr. Marreh, how many alias names do you have?
A- Don't understand.
Q- Are you called Ebrima Sanyang?
A- Yes
Q- Are you also known as Ebrima Bojang?
A- Yes
Q- Any other name?
A- No
Q- When you spoke to Lt Col. Yerro Jallow what name did you use?
A- Ebrima Bojang
Q- What name did you use to Kuluteh Manneh?
A- Ebrima Bojang
Q- When you spoke to the current CDS Masanneh Kinteh what name did you use?
A- Ebrima Bojang
Q- When you were investigated how many coup plots did you mention to the investigators?
A- One
Q ? How long does it take between the third meeting and the execution of your assignment?
A- About one week
Q- You said you met Rui Jabbi Gassama at the third meeting?
A- Yes
Q- What happened to him after the said meeting?
A- I do not know.
Q- Did you hear about him after the meeting?
A- No
Q- In your evidence-in-chief you said the first accused Lt. Gen Lang Tombong spoke to Kukoi Samba Sanyang?
A- Yes
Q- Was he speaking under a loud speaker (of a mobile)?
A- Yes
Q What language were they talking?
A- Mandinka
Q- Was Kukoi present at the third meeting?
A- No
Q- Do you know Brigadier General Ndure Cham?
A- No
Q- Was he present in any of the three meetings?
A- No
Q- You claim that first accuse Lang Tombong sent you to Senegal. Is that correct?
A- Yes
Q- And that you were communicating by telephone?
A- Yes
Q- What month was this?
A- November 2009.
PW1's cross-examination by defence counsel Pap Cheyassin Secka counsel for Brigadier General Omar Bun Mbye, Major Lamin Bo Badjie, former Deputy IGP Modou Gaye, Ngorr Secka and Lie Joof.
Q- On the third February 2010 you made a statement in respect of this matter at the NIA?
A- Yes
Q- Is it true that this statement is a follow up to the statement made on the 21st November 2009?
A- Yes
Q- I put it to you that in the statement you made on the 21st November 2009, you never mentioned the name of Omar Bun Mbye and Abdoulie Joof?
A- Their names are mentioned.
Q- If you have mentioned their names on your earlier statement, why was it necessary to repeat it in your statement of the 3rd February 2010?
A- During the time I was interrogated, their names were mentioned and that day was 21st November 2009, when I wrote my statement. Then on the 3rd of February 2010 I realised that the two accused persons' names were not mentioned. I was then called to write an additional statement.
Q- I put it to you that they were released?
A- I am not aware.
Q- I further put it to you that they were re-arrested on the 2nd February 2010?
A- I am not aware.
Q- I am putting it to you it was the result of the re-arrest that you were invited to make a statement on the 3rd February?
A- No
Q- In your evidence yesterday you said Lang Tombong Tamba, Omar Bun Mbye, Kawsu Camara, Modou Gaye, Abdoulie Joof and Yousef Ezzeden attended the second meeting?
A- Yes
Q- Which of this evidence is true to accept - that Omar Bun Mbye attended a meeting once or twice?
A- Both first and second meeting.
Q- When you met the first accused, you told him that you are Ebrima Sanyang, the son of Satou Tamba?
A- Yes
Q- Is Satou Tamba your mother?
A- No
Q- I put it to you that Satou Tamba is Lang Tombong's sister?
A- Yes
Q- And you know Lang Tombong's sister has a son, but he did not know him?
A- I do not know
Q - I put it to you that you must have known that or you will not impersonate someone's nephew?
A- No
Q- I put it to you that you are a professional impersonator who does his home work before approaching?
The presiding judge ordered that this question be expunged from the records.
Q- Did you ever spend a night at Lang Tombong's house?
A- No
Q- Were you a frequent visitor in Lang Tombong's house?
A- Yes
Q- I put it to you that between 1st January and 9th October 2009 your were a frequent visitor to his house?
A - Yes
Q- I put it to you that you must observe Lang Tombong had soldiers guarding his house?
A- Yes
Q- Do you know how many soldiers they were?
A- No
Q- I put it to you that he had four soldiers guarding him at his two houses 24 hours?
A- I do not know
Q- Did you say that you met Rui Jabbi Gassama at the third meeting?
A- Yes
Q- Did you say that it was the only time you met him?
A- Yes
Q- How do you know his name was Rui Jabbi Gassama?
A- Lang Tombong introduced me to him.
Q- Apart from seeing Omar Bun Mbye and Abdoulie Joof at the meetings, did you meet them anywhere else?
A- I do see them, but I am not familiar with them.
Q- Did you see them before the alleged meeting?
A- Yes before the meeting.
Q- So you never saw them after the alleged meeting?
A- I did not see them.
Q- Do you know where Omar Bun Mbye and Lamin B.O. Badjie live?
A- I don't know.
Q- You indicated that he third accused was not present in the third meeting?
A- I said that Lamin B.O. Badjie, 3rd accused was not present in the first and second meetings, but was there in the third meeting.
Q- Did you make a statement on the 11th of February 2010 at the NIA?
A- I cannot remember.
Q- Do you remember that former IGP Essa Badjie and Director General of NIA were involved in a coup plot?
A- I never stated that. What I said was that at the time I was caught at Farafenni, I called the 4th and 5th accused and informed them that I was caught. They told me not to mention their names, instead ex-IGP, ex-deputy CDS, current CDS and Director General of NIA.
Q- When were you caught at Farafenni?
A- 19th November 2009.
Q- Since 19th November 2009 until now have you been released?
A- No
Q- Why did it take you until two months to say that it was the 1st accuse , 2nd accuse, 4th , 5th 7th and 8th accuse who sent you?
A- I disagreed
Q- Do you want to tell the court that when you were arrested, you had access to telephone calls ?
A- Yes
Q- I put it to you that is not true?
A- It is true, even 5th accused confessed that I spoke to him.
Q- I put it to you that in your statement on the 21st November and the 3rd of February 2010 you never mentioned the name of Lamin B.O. Badjie?
A- I have not, and the reason why I did not mention his name was because at the 1st and 2nd meetings he was not present, but he was present on the day I was introduced to Rui Jabbi Gasssama, and I saw him.
Q- During your detention did you have any confrontation with Lamin B.O. Badjie?
A- No
Re-examination by Lawyer Tambedou:
Q- Do you know former IGP Essa Badjie?
A- Yes
Q- Do you have any problem with him?
A- No
Q- Were you ever confronted by Modou Gaye at the NIA?
A- Yes
Q- How many times?
A- Once
Q- Did you deny knowing him?
A- No
Q- I put it to you that you were confronted by Modou Gaye twice on the same day?
A- No
Q- Do you know police officer Lamin Badjie alias Baby Badjie?
A- Yes
Q- On the day you were arrested, was it the day you made a phone call to Kawsu Camara and Modou Gaye?
A- Yes
Q- Was that day the 19th of November 2009?
A- Yes
Q- From whose mobile did you call them?
A- From my mobile.
Q- What is the number?
A- 7854500
Q- Yesterday in your evidence-in-chief, you said Lie Joof brought his money in cheque?
A- Yes
Q- Do you know who the cheque was payable to?
A- I don't know.
Q- Was it a cheque from one of the banks in the Gambia?
A- I don't know.
Q- Was the former IGP arrested over this matter?
A- I am not aware.
Q- I put to you he was arrested?
A- I don't know
Q- I also put it to you that in your first confrontation with Modou Gaye you denied knowing him?
A- I did not deny knowing him
Q- Were you asked to described the 7th accused at the NIA in his absence?
A- Yes
Q- What time was this November 2009 or in 2010?
A- I cannot remember.
Q- Was it before or after your statement, first statement?
A- Before I wrote my first statement.
Q- And your first statement was the one you wrote in November 2009?
A- Yes.
