The trial of the alleged MFDC rebels from the southern Senegalese region of Casamance continued on Wednesday, 5th December before Magistrate B.Y. Camara of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court.

Under cross-examination by the 8th accused, Abdou Salam Jammeh, the state witness, detective Amadou Sanyang, stated that he was not part of the arresting team. Further asked whether he was present when the 8th accused was arrested, the state witness replied in the negative. “When I was taken from the Serious Crime unit to the NIA were you present?” the accused asked. Mr. Sanyang replied that he was not. As to whether he was aware that the 8th accused was promised he would be granted bail and political asylum, the state witness replied that he was not aware of any such promise.

The accused then put it to the witness that he (the accused) had been asked by the panel to make a declaration in English, French and Fula in the presence of journalists, but the witness denied the claim. As to whether he could remember the day he was forced by Lamin Darboe, Edrisa Jobe and Musa Kinteh to sign his statement at gunpoint, the witness denied knowledge.

Thereafter the 3rd accused, Nuha Jammeh, also had his turn to cross-examine the state witness, detective Sanyang.

Also testifying, the state’s independent witness, Tijan Bah, told the court that he was a retired civil servant. He adduced that he knew the two accused persons, Nuha Jammeh and Abdou Salam Jammeh. He said that on 21st May and 4th June this year, he was invited at the NIA to be an independent witness for the 3rd accused, Nuha Jammeh. He said the accused made his statement voluntarily without any threats. He said he also witnessed the obtaining of the statement from the 8th accused, Abdou Salam Jammeh, who he said also made his statement freely.