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Momodou
Denmark
11735 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Mar 2007 : 12:38:21
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AT THE COURT MARTIAL
Lt. SANYANG CROSS-EXAMINED
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
During cross-examination of Lieutenant Pharing Sanyang by the state counsel, Emmanuel O. Fagbenle, in the ongoing court martial at Yundum Barracks on Thursday 1st March 2007, the accused told the court that he had never lied until the day he made his statement.
Responding to the question as to where he stated the truth in his statement, Lt Sanyang said that it is his name, age, address and signature. He said that the day he was assigned to the airport his commander had confidence in him and that was why he was given the assignment. He told the court that the reason why he was replaced by Lieutenant Ceesay at the airport was because of the fact that he underwent an operation; that the operation was a result of an accident in October 2003 during which he sustained injuries. When asked which part of his body sustained injuries, he replied that the areas affected were his right lower jaw and the right side of his neck. "I'm putting it to you that you sustained injuries on your head, arms, legs, chest and back as a result of that accident," said Fagbenle. Lt Sanyang replied, "the only place I sustained injuries from that accident is on my right lower jaw and at my right side of the neck." "I'm putting it to you that all the scars that you have showed to this court were injuries that you sustained from that accident in 2003 and not from the beating as you claimed," Fagbenle said. Lt Sanyang said. "That is incorrect." When asked whether his rifle was supposed to be in the armoury, he responded that unless it was not allowed by the commander, it must be kept in the arms store and not in the armoury. He was asked whether at anytime he was in charge of the coup plotters, Sanyang replied that that has never happened. "Are you in a position at the airport to do the coup," asked Fagbenle. Lt Sanyang replied, "the opportunity was there, but I was not to do it because I was not part of it," said Pharing. Asked about the amount of soldiers with him at the airport, he said he was given about (30) thirty soldiers. He also said that he never had any quarrel with Malick Jatta prior to his arrest; that the size of the hammer he was hit with by Malick Jatta can be the size of the handle of a fan. The state counsel asked Lt Sanyang how many statements were shown to him before he made his statement on the 22nd March 2006, he replied that he was shown a bunch of papers that were said to belong to those who were first arrested like Captain Bunja Darboe and Captain Wassa Camara, Lt. Sanyang denied talking to Corporal Samba Bah on his way to the airport and that he was even surprised to know that he had talked to Corporal Bah. Lt Sanyang told the court-martial that he cannot tell whether the first accused (Bunja) and the third accused (Wassa) had made any statements before. He said that when he went to the hospital to extract his broken tooth, he informed the doctor that it was as a result of torture. Lt Sanyang added that the removed piece of tooth was given to him but he forgot it on the doctor's table.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 026/2007, 5-6 March, 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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