Captain Yaya Darboe, the 2nd accused person in the March 21 foiled coup led by Colonel Ndure Cham yesterday testified before Justice Agim in the ongoing court martial at the Yundum military barracks.

Captain Yaya Darboe in his testimony said he was arrested on the 21st March 2006 and taken to the Mile 2 Central Prison from his Brusubi compound and that he knows two of the officers amongst those who came to arrest him. He said upon his arrival at Mile 2, he was taken to the conference room, from where he was taken to a prison cell. He said he slept on a bare concrete slap without a mattress or mosquito net. On the 22nd March 2006 at about 12.00 pm some officers came to collect him and took him to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Head Quarters in Banjul.

According to Captain Darboe, the officers asked him to confess that he was part of the coup, which he refused to do.

In his testimony, Mr Tijan Bojang, a residence of Sukuta village in Kombo North, Western Division, an independent witness before the court martial said he was called on the 23rd March 2005 by one Mr Lamin Cham to come to the NIA Headquarters to serve as an independent witness. According to him, upon arrival at the NIA head office, he was introduced to some officers and the 2nd accused person Captain Yaya Darboe to be his independent witness. According to him Captain Darboe preferred to write his own statement which was signed by him (Tijan Bojang) and Captain Darboe and then he left.

Lawyer Jobarteh, a member of the defence counsel, in his cross examination asked him whether he (Tijan Bojang) is not the very NIA officer posted at the Kanilai Junction. He denied ever being a security officer. When asked about his ID card and when he obtained it, he replied that he left it at home and could not remember exactly when he obtained it.
At that juncture Counsel Jobarteh applied to the court for the witness to produce his ID card in the court on the next adjourned date.
Justice Agim granted the application.