Mami Minteh is the second defence witness. She said she named one of her children after retired Captain Edward Singhatey. She told the court that her son Edward Touray was born on the 23rd December 1995 while her first child Fatoumata Touray was born in 1991.
“In 1995 you were pregnant of Edward Touray?” Lawyer Abdoulie Sisoho for Yankuba Touray asked.
“Yes,” Mami Touray replied.
The witness said after she gave birth to Fatoumata Touray in 1991 she had two miscarriages and that was why when she was pregnant with Edward, the doctors asked her to bedrest for six months.
“From what you said did you heed to the advice of the doctor?” the Lawyer asked.
“Yes, I was asked not to go out so I adhered to the doctor’s advice,” the witness answered.
“From March 1995 to December 1995 when you gave birth to Edward Touray, were you involved in any social activities or events?” Lawyer Sisoho asked.
“Yes, I used to go to prenatal,” Mami answered.
“From March 1995 all the way to your delivery in December 1995, did you visit any area in Cape Point in The Gambia?” Sisoho asked.
“Yes, I went to attend a naming ceremony at Edward Singhatey’s residence after his wife gave birth,” the witness replied.
“After the naming ceremony did you have cause to go there (at Singhtey’s residence) for a visit or any other reason?” the Lawyer asked.
“No, I did not go there because I was in bed rest,” the witness replied.
Minteh said she was given a car by the government with a driver, called Pa Colley who was her personal driver.
She said the official driver of her husband Yankuba Touray was Lamin Ndour. She informed the court that Ndour only drove her when there was a reception, 22nd July commemoration or Independence Day celebration when she joined her husband’s official car.
“Have you at any point in your life been driven by Mr Ndour and Amat Jangum to Edward Singhatey’s house for party?” Lawyer Sisoho.
“No,” the witness said.
“After the naming ceremony you attended there, did you return to Edward Singhatey’s residence for any reason?” the Lawyer asked.
“No,” she answered.
“Did you have a relationship with Edward Singhatey?” the Lawyer asked.
“We did not know each other before until 1996 when we started having a relationship,” the witness replied.
She said her relationship with Touray’s wife came when Tuti Faal, the then wife of former President Yahya Jammeh invited all the wives of the members of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) to come together to meet and unite in order to support their husbands in the presidential elections.
“Can you drive?” the Lawyer asked.
“Yes, since 1990,” the witness said.
“When you are going to events who used to drive you?” the witness asked.
“Sometimes Pa Colley used to drive me but sometimes I drive myself,” the witness answered.
The witness said their house in Kerr Sering has four rooms adding the other three rooms are visible from her house/room? She said one of the rooms was occupied by herself and her husband while the three others were occupied by the others including the maids, her daughter and sisters and the orderlies as well as Adama and Bakary Touray.
She said the orderlies did a two-day shift before changing. She added that the maids were responsible for the house chores while Awa Minteh used to take care of her room.
The case was adjourned to the 6th August 2020 at 2 pm to 3 p.m.
