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Momodou
Denmark
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 Posted - 14 Dec 2006 : 15:41:45
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AT THE COURT-MARTIAL
Major Ebrima Bah Testifies
By Fabakary B. Ceesay and Annia Gaye
Major Ebrima Bah, the Commanding Officer of the first Infantry Battalion has testified in the on going court-martial. Major Bah and two other soldiers have also testified on Friday 8th December 2006, at Yundum Barracks.
Major Bah told the court that, while he was at his office on the 20th March 2006, Captain Yaya Darboe came in and greeted him. He said he then asked him whether he had come to pay a visit to his family. He said Captain Darboe told him that he was posted back to first Infantry Battalion from the Second Infantry at Farafenni. Major Bah noted that he told Captain Darboe that he (Bah) had not received any signal about his transfer. Major Bah said that Captain Darboe told him the CDS (Ndure Cham) had asked him to come without his knowledge. Bah indicated that he then called CDS Ndure Cham to confirm. He said he told Cham that he (Bah) had not received any signal about Captain Darboe’s transfer. He pointed out that CDS Cham replied him in a very angry language that he (Cham) can post his soldiers anytime without signal. Major Bah asserted that he then asked Captain Darboe to resume office, since that is the case. He said that Captain Darboe was an adjutant at the First Infantry Battalion before he was transferred to Farafenni the Second Infantry Battalion.
He said anytime soldiers are posted there must be a signal prior to that. Major Bah indicated that when Captain Yaya Darboe resumed as adjutant, he was responsible for the feeding of the soldiers and the armoury. Major Bah posited that on a latter day Captain Darboe asked for permission to go home to cook as his wife was sick. He said he granted him permission to go home.
Cross Examination
During cross examination by Lawyer Sainabou Wadda Ceesay, who was holding brief for Lawyer Borry S. Touray, he asked Major Bah when Captain Darboe was transferred to Farafenni Barracks. He said he cannot remember the actual date but that there was a letter for his transfer. He noted that he could not tell how long Captain Darboe served at Farafenni unless he went through the posting letter. Major Bah indicated that he was Captain Darboe’s immediate boss but cannot tell how long Captain Darboe served as an adjutant. He said Captain Darboe had been an adjutant for a long time. Mrs. Ceesay ask him who gave the signal for the posting of the soldiers. He said the signal come from The Gambia National Army (GNA) headquarters from the high command, to the units. He said he had no authority over postings. Lawyer Wadda Ceesay asked him whether in the army it is usual for verbal orders to take place. Major Bah replied that it is not usual. Major Bah asserted that he had been working with Captain Yaya Darboe for more than five years. Counsel Wadda Ceesay asked the witness whether he (Bah) was arrested in connection to the coup plot. Major Bah replied that he was arrested and detained for one (1) week before he was released.
Testimony of Staff SGT Jobe
Staff Sergeant Dam Jobe testified before the court that, on the 21st March 2006, he was the orderly Sergeant at the Yundum Barracks. He narrated that he had finished distributing the meals to soldiers at their guard posts, he was ordered to answer to the duty officer, Lieutenant Demba Savage. Sergeant Jobe noted that Lieutenant Savage asked him whether he knew where Captain Darboe was staying and he replied in the negative. He said Savage told him that the driver that he went with, Lance Corporal Colley know the place. He pointed out that Savage then gave him a bunch of keys and told him that the keys are those of the armoury. Sergeant Jobe said that Lieutenant Savage asked him to take the bunch of keys to Captain Darboe. Jobe noted that upon his arrival at captain Darboe’s house his wife told him that Darboe was out. He said he then decided to give the keys to his wife and told her that they are for her husband. He added that he told the driver that Darboe was not there but that he gave the keys to his wife.
Sergeant Jobe asserted that he informed Lieutenant Savage that Captain Darboe was not there but he gave the keys to his wife. He said that Savage later called Darboe to enquire whether he had received the keys. He added that Savage later told him that Captain Darboe has received the keys.
Cross Examination
During cross examination, Counsel Wadda Ceesay asked him why he was ordered to take the bunch of keys to Captain Darboe Sergeant Jobe replied that he did so because Captain Darboe was an adjutant. Jobe said he cannot tell how long Captain Darboe has served as the adjutant of the Yundum Barracks. He added that as an adjutant you are responsible for the safe keeping of the armoury keys. Sergeant Jobe indicated that he did not know how the keys came into the possession of Lieutenant Savage.
Testimony Of CPL Camara
In his testimony, Corporal Arjuma Camara, who is attached to the first Infantry Battalion at Yundum Barracks pointed out that on the 20th March 2006, he was posted at the Abuko Earth Station as the Guard Commander. Camara said at around 7 to 8pm as he is preparing to perform the “Magreb” prayers, he saw Captain Wassa Camara coming towards their guard post. Corporal Camara noted that Captain Camara told him that he is there to see one Mr. Njie. He said he then ordered one of his men to accompany Captain Camara to the building and he continued with his Magreb prayers. Corporal Camara noted that after five to ten minutes, Captain Camara came back and joined them on the prayers. Corporal Camara narrated that on the 21st March at around 8 to 9 in the evening Captain Camara came to their guard post and asked for the same Mr. Njie. He said he accompanied Captain Camara to the building of operations where he introduced Captain Camara to one Mr. Colley. Corporal Camara noted that he told Mr. Colley that captain Camara is his senior officer and that he had an appointment with Mr. Njie. He noted that Mr. Colley picked up the phone and called Mr. Njie. Corporal Camara noted that he then left him to have their private conversation. He said he went outside the building and wait for Captain Camara. He asserted that he and Captain Camara went together to a shop and Captain Camara bought them a packet of “attaya” (china green tea) and a cup of sugar. Corporal Camara said Captain Camara told him that he wanted to drink the first serve before he left. He said he then asked Private M.A Njie to brew the tea (attaya) while Captain Camara was outside. He said he later saw Captain Camara coming from the other side of the fence and was communicating on his mobile phone. Corporal Camara asserted that he gave Captain Camara the first cup of the “attaya” and that Captain Camara told him he did not want the second round. He posited that while they were at their guard post they received a phone call from the base to Private Njie that there was a coup plot going on and he woke up all his men and gave them the information.
Corporal Camara asserted that they made a call to one Private Sanneh B to verify what they heard. He said Private Sanneh told them that the information is true and that some officers had been arrested in connection to it. He said he told Private Sanneh that Captain Camara had been coming to their post at the Abuko Earth Station for the past days.
Cross Examination
During cross examination by counsel Lamin S. Camara who was holding brief for Lawyer Lamin Jobarteh. Lawyer Camara asked him whether he know the Mr. Njie Captain Camara was looking for, Corporal Camara said, he knows Mr. Njie the Managing Director of the Earth Station. He said that Mr. Njie is the only Njie he knows at the Earth Station. Corporal Camara said he told Captain Camara that Mr. Njie the Managing Director would not be in office at that time. He said he asked Private Mendy D Square to escort Captain Camara to Mr. Njie’s Office.
Counsel Camara asks him whether he knows the reason of Captain Camara’s visit to Mr. Njie, he replied in the negative. He said he cannot tell what Captain Camara was saying on the phone when he gave him the “attaya.” Counsel Camara asked him whether he was arrested and how long he had been detained. He replied that he was arrested and detain for three (3) weeks. Counsel Camara asked him whether he knew the reasons for his arrest, Corporal Camara said, he was arrested to make a statement at the NIA. Corporal Camara indicated that his statement was that Captain Camara came to the Earth Station on two occasions. He said that Captain Camara had never met Mr. Njie at the station. He added that he never knew what Captain Camara and Mr. Njie discussed on the phone.
At this point, Counsel Camara applied for the witness to stand down for further cross examination by Counsel Jobarteh as he is only holding brief for him. Corporal Camara was later ask to stand down, until Jobarteh is available. The matter was adjourned till Saturday.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue NO. 111/2006, 11-12 December, 2006
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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