In Yakumba & father’s trial, 4th prosecution witness testifies

In his testimony, he told the court that he is a narcotic officer. He stated that he is stationed at Serrekunda Police Statioin. He posited that on the 6th October, 2020, he was on duty at Serrekunda Police Station. He adduced that he joined a team of narcotic officers led by Baba Njie. He added that upon their arrival at Kololi around 10 p.m., they stopped at Queen’s Head Bar where they conducted a search.

He further stated that Abdoulie A. Jarju and Ebrima Fadera proceeded to search the suspect. “After we completed the search, we boarded our vehicle and realised that Abdoulie Jarju and Ebrima Fadera were not seen. We heard a shout from them for help,” he told the court.

He went on to say that upon their arrival at the scene, they found the suspect, Tijan Macauley was handcuffed. He testified that Yakumba and her father were among the people who held the suspect behind. He noted further that they identified themselves as narcotic officers by showing their warrant cards to them. He added that they were pushing and pulling with the officers.

“Yakumba and her father told Ebrima Fadera and Abdoulie Jarju that Tijan will not go. They were trying to rescue him from the officers,” he narrated. He stated that they managed to arrest Tijan and took him into the vehicle, yet Yakumba and her father insisted that he would not be taken away.

“Tijan was at the back of the pick-up inside and Yakumba and her father came there to get Tijan down from the vehicle by pulling him. They almost succeeded in pulling him from the vehicle,” he told the court. He noted that they took Tijan into the vehicle.

“When we identified ourselves as narcotic officers, one of the people called Yakumba’s name and told her to look at what was happening. Yakumba and her father held Tijan’s hand and were pushing and pulling with him,” he told the court.

He testified further that Yakumba held Tijan from behind and her father also did the same, saying: “He is not going.”  He adduced that upon their arrival at the police station, Ebrima Fadera complained that he had some pain. He revealed that Fadera was later escorted to the Kanifing General Hospital for medical check-up. “I then wrote my statement,” he concluded.

Defence Counsel L. S. Camara, who was representing the accused persons along with Counsel Yankuba Darboe, tested the credibility of the witness under cross-examination. He asked him:

“Did you make a statement?”

“Yes.”

“Your statement was made on the 6th October, 2020?”

“Yes.”

At this juncture, Counsel L. S. Camara applied to tender the statement. ASP Jahateh, who was leading the witness, and being assisted by Superintendent Manga, did not raise any objection to the tendering of the document. The application was granted and the statement was admitted by the court.

“You said you wrote the statement yourself?”

“Yes.”

“You wrote it on the 6th October, 2020?”

“Yes.’

“Everything would have been fresh in your mind?”

“Yes.”

“Did you lie in this court in your evidence?”

“No.”

“Did you write in your statement that Yakumba and her father were holding Tijan from behind?”

“No.”

“Did you write in the statement that the accused persons were saying that Tijan will not go?”

“No.”

“Did you also write in your statement that the accused persons pulled Tijan from the vehicle until he fell?”

“No.”

“Did you write in your statement that somebody asked Yakumba to look at what was happening while her father was holding Tijan?”

“No.”

“As a police officer, do you have the obligation to tell the court the truth?”

“Yes.”

The case continues on the 11th February, 2021.