The 8th accused person in the ongoing trial of the nine alleged MFDC rebels, Abdou Salam Jammeh, is alleged to have performed the role of marabout for the suspected MFDC rebels, according to the evidence adduced by the 2nd prosecution witness.

Testifying before Magistrate B.Y. Camara of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, detective Amadou Sanyang said he knew Abdou Salam Jammeh, Joseph Jatta, Tamsir Badjie, Wuye Jarju and Nuha Jammeh. “I was informed by the Crime Management Co-ordinator of the Gambia Police Force to report to the NIA head office in Banjul to be part of the panel set up to investigate the alleged activities of MFDC fighters in The Gambia. I reported to the NIA where I introduced myself,” Detective Sanyang said, adding: “On the day in question the first to appear before the panel was the 8th accused, Abdou Salam Jammeh.”

Detective Sanyang further testified that when the accused was asked about his nationality, he replied that he came from Casamance in the republic of Senegal and that he resided in Brikama Nyambai. On whether he had documents legalising his stay in The Gambia, he replied in the affirmative, stating that he possessed a birth certificate, passport and national identity card.

He further adduced that the 8th accused was also asked about his connection with the rest and he responded that he was not a member but was the marabout of the group both in Casamance and The Gambia. Detective Sanyang testified that the group of five was being sponsored by the Senegalese government, recalling that PW2 had also told the panel that the group of five represented a fraction of MFDC rebels in Casamance.

According to the witness, the accused told the panel that they received 3m CFA from the Senegalese government through one Latif Hydara, adding that the money was used for their operation in The Gambia and Casamance.

Defective Sanyang further disclosed that the accused was asked a number of questions ranging from the 7,790,000 CFA, two motor bikes, a laptop, camera, cash book, Gambian and Senegambia maps, military equipment, talisman, AK-47 magazine and 1000 euros. He adduced that the accused told the panel that the monies and the motor bicycles were part of the subvention from the Senegalese government. The prosecution witness also recounted that the accused told the panel that he was in fact given some money to buy some arms but that he did not buy the arms, converting the money to some other use.

He concluded that after the accused’s meeting with the panel, he was instructed to obtain a statement from him, noting that he did so in the presence of an independent witness called Tijan Bojang. He said he also obtained the statement of Joseph Jatta and Nuha Jammeh in the presence of Tijan Bah as the independent witness. Hearing continues on 28th November.