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Witness cross-examined in cocaine 9 trials

Jun 13, 2011, 12:24 PM | Article By: Malamin Conteh

Superintendent Alieu Jassey, the eleventh prosecution witness in the multimillion dollar cocaine case involving nine foreign nationals, was on Thursday cross-examined at the Banjul Magistrates' Court, before Magistrate Taiwo Alagba.

The nine accused persons are: Ephriam Micheal Chiduben a Nigerian national, Juan Carlos Sanchez, Eric Bottini, Dose Fermin, Juan Carlos Diaz, and Esteaban Zavala all Venezuelan nationals, George Sanchez a Mexican/Liberian national, as well as Rudy Rasoehamid Gazi and Dennis Wilgo Winter both Dutch nationals.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to traffick in prohibited drugs, trafficking in drugs, dealing in prohibited drugs, having firearm without authority, importation of firearm without authority, among others.

Testifying under cross-examination, Superintendent Jassey told the court that he has been working with the NDEA since 2005 and he is familiar with the way samples are obtained at the NDEA.

He adduced that the samples were obtained on 7 June 2010 and 25 samples were extracted from each bags, adding that he personally took it for analysis.

Superintendent further testified that the report was collected by the scientific unit personnel and it was sealed in 85 envelops.

He said that he did not know when the alleged cocaine where discovered and he had never been to Bonto in connection with the case.

He also told the court that the accused persons were not present when the samples were been obtained and he was not the investigating officer in the case.

The case continues.