The scandal unfolding before the High Court in Banjul has revealed troubling testimony implicating key judiciary staff in the handling of 52 blocks of cocaine.
Abdoulie Dampha, the fourth prosecution witness (PW4) and a judiciary process server at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, testified before Justice Sarah Aryee that Magistrate Colley personally assigned him to carry boxes of cocaine into the magistrate’s chambers in 2023.
“Alieu Nyang told me that I was carrying cocaine and advised me to wash my hands immediately,” Dampha revealed.
Dampha identified another process server called Alieu Nyang and one Lamin Jarjue was present during the task.
Yesterday, Alieu Nyang, also a judiciary process server and the fifth prosecution witness (PW5), testified that in October 2023, he and Dampha were ordered to lift two boxes, which appeared damaged at the bottom. They had to use a wheelbarrow to transport them.
During cross-examination by defence counsel I. Sonko, Nyang confirmed that the court’s exhibit store was overcrowded and in poor condition, prompting a request for a better storage facility.
Asked about the contents of the boxes, Nyang said: “I knew through Ridwan (2nd accused person) - he told me there was cocaine in the boxes.”
However, when questioned about any criminal act by the accused persons, Nyang responded: “Never. I was surprised when I heard about the allegations.”
Nyang further stated he had worked in the judiciary for over 10 years and had never encountered such a case.
Modou Camara, a Drug Law Enforcement Agency officer attached to the Exhibit and Store unit, served as the sixth prosecution witness (PW6). He testified that the 52 blocks of cocaine were weighed at their office in October 2023 and were later taken back to the custody of Burama Jammeh.
Later, a second weighment was conducted at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court. Camara revealed that the same blocks were now found packed in suitcases instead of cartons.
“Some of the numbers on the blocks were repeated,” Camara noted.
He also confirmed that the two weighments yielded different results, 62kg during the first and 55kg during the second.
During cross-examination by defence counsel Mboge, Camara admitted he could not explain the weight discrepancy: “If it is the same exhibit and same package, it should give you the same weight. But now they are different.”
He also could not recall the colour of any of the 52 blocks, stating: “This has been quite a long time now. I cannot be in a position to remember.”
Furthermore, Camara acknowledged that the exhibits remained in DLEAG’s custody between 3 and 23 October 2023, a 20-day period, before being handed over to the court. When pressed on who received the exhibit, Camara identified Abdoulie Ceesay as the signatory in the DLEAG weighment book, though he denied that Ceesay received the exhibit directly.
“Abdoulie Ceesay signed as the prosecutor of DLEAG, not as the recipient,” he clarified.
The case continues today.
