Witness states he directed Sanna Fadera, Fabakarry to marabout Yaya Manjang

The marabout had himself testified before the Court some weeks ago as state witness.

The landmark case involves Lance Corporal Sanna Fadera, Sergeant Gibril Darboe, Corporal Ebrima Sannoh, Corporal Omar Njie of the Gambia Armed Forces and Police Sub-Inspector Fabakarry Jawara. They are being arraigned on five charges that include treason, concealment of treason and incitement to mutiny.

After telling the court that he was introduced to Sanna Fadera (1st accused) by Fabakarry Jawara (also one of the accused persons in the case), the witness added that he was told that Sana went to a marabout and was given liquid herbal medicine with which he was supposed to bath on Sunday.

“They told me they wanted me to drive them on Sunday to go to the bush. When I reached Fabakarry’s place, I met Sanna there. They entered my car and I drove them to a forest after Busra. Sanna went and bathed and came back. We entered the car again and went home,” the witness testified.

“When we reached Busra, I pointed to a compound not far from the highway. I told them that there was a marabout, Yaya Manjang, there. However, at the time, Sanna was in a hurry as he said he was supposed to go to work. He advised us to go home and come back with Jawara the following day. We went home. I dropped them at Jawara’s home and went home,” he told the court.

“Fabakarry later called me in the evening to go there. We went there, to Busra, at Yaya Manjang’s place. I introduced Fabakarry to Yaya Manjang and asked Fabakarry to explain what brought him there. Fabakarry explained that his younger brother called Sanna Fadera wanted to carry out a coup against the government, and he wanted the marabout to do some Istikharr [from Arabic - Salat al-Istikhaara, which means the prayer of seeking for Allah’s guidance]," Mr Jabbi said.

“Yaya Manjang told him anybody who wants to overthrow a government should do so between December and January. He asked us to go home and asked Fabakarry to call him the following day," he narrated.

“Few days later, Fabakarry called and told me that he had gone back with Sanna Fadera. Fabakarrry told me that Yaya Manjang said they should give out charity of cola nut and biter cola," he added.

The witness explained that he also directed them to another marabout in Mauritania and Guinea Conakry. He posited that he told Fabakarry that if it was Mauritania his (the witness) family had connection with the family of Kara Yakuba’s family.

He told Fabakarry about a particular uncle of his called Saikou Gassama (the other civilian formerly accused along with the soldiers in the trial).

He posited that he was told by Fabakarry: “Why don’t you let me go with that person… so that he can also help me with the money for the charity because I also heard that he helps people