In his testimony, Sankareh was asked by Defence Counsel A. Sillah, about whether he stood by the assertions he made in an interview with Peter Gomez of West Coast Radio?
However, when Sankareh started to answer the question, the lawyer interjected, claiming that it’s a yes or no answer.
This did not go down well with Sankareh who responded by saying: “Sir, I am not a little boy. You can’t pin me down to answer a yes or no question. No, no, I am beyond that.”
Lawyer Sillah replied, saying: “Honourable, this is a court of law, you answer yes or no, and then we move on.”
The heated debate arose during cross-examination when Defence Counsel Sillah asked the government spokesperson whether he still maintained the information he (Sankareh) had said during his interview with Peter Gomez of West Coast Radio.
Answering the question, Sankareh replied positively, saying: “Based on the information that was provided to me by the police at that time.”
“Apart from West Coast Radio, I never and ever had any other interview with any journalists, being it broadcast, print, social media, among others,” he clarified.
Meanwhile, Defence Counsel Lamin J. Darboe who was leading the witness during his evidence in chief in yesterday’s court sitting, asked whether he (Sankareh) recalled the interview he had with Peter Gomez of the West Coast Radio on 14 September 2023 – which Sankareh responded positively.
“In that interview, you stated that Ousainou Bojang was responsible for the shooting incident at the Sukuta Traffic Lights?” Lawyer Darboe asked.
Sankareh denied saying such, adding: “What I said was that the alleged shooter in the PIU shooting incident at the Sukuta Traffic Lights was arrested. I used it allegedly four times. Based on the information that was provided to him, I again said that the alleged shooter has an accomplice.”
“You also said that the alleged shooter was present at the trial of one of the sittings in the trial of Yankuba Darboe who is the chairman of Brikama Area Council (BAC)?” Darboe asked.
However, Sankareh denied mentioning the name of Yankuba Darboe in the said interview, saying: “I never mentioned Yankuba Darboe. It was a context, and the context is that it’s alleged the shooter is a security guard at the BAC, and based on police evidence, the shooter was present during the trial of the Chairperson of the area council, and necessarily as a security guard of the council.”
Further quizzed by Defence Counsel whether he could recall telling Peter Gomez that the alleged shooter wanted to kill at least six PIU officers? Sankareh responded, saying: “I never said that in that interview,” he said.
“As a government spokesperson, when events unfold, I am brief on the status quo, and I trust the information I got because these are government sworn officers, and they wouldn’t lie to me. What they tell me is consistent with the truth. I don’t make up news, the news I give is the news given to me by the state.”
“I told Peter that based on the information that was provided to me, the alleged shooter had conspirators, and that the witness was cooperating, and they were very happy with his cooperation.”
Sankareh added: “The following day of the interview I had with Peter, I left for the U.S. to attend the UN General Assembly in the United States of America, and I stayed there for one month. After that event unfolded, the case progressed. Again, since that interview, I have never had any other interview. I don’t read the newspaper, and I don’t listen to the radio. I am independent about the case. What I said on that day is what I said, no more, no less.”
When further asked whether the police gave him any information regarding confession of the alleged shooter, Sankareh responded in the negative, saying: “Like I said, at the material time in question, the Gambian people wanted to have an idea about what transpired on that fateful Tuesday evening. Therefore, as a responsible government, it’s important we tell people what we know at that material time in question, and my role was just to relay that message.
“Would you agree that most of the things you said on that interview were not correct?” Lawyer Darboe asked.
Sankareh strongly denied the defence’s counsel's claim, adding: “At that material time in question, all that I said was correct. Like I said, it was based on a preliminary investigation. Soon after the issue, I just disassociated myself from the case entirely.”
Meanwhile, A. Sillah made an application for the court to make an order for the proprietor of West Coast Radio to produce the audio recording of the interview he (Sankareh) had with Peter Gomez. Following no objection from the lawyer of the first accused person and the DPP, presiding Judge Justice Ebrima Jaiteh made an order for the proprietor of the said radio station to produce the said audio recording.
The State has also withdrawn the application pending the determination of the Court of Appeal.
The case was adjourned for today for continuation of cross examination.
