Police Detective Lamin Cham at the Major Crime Unit of the Gambia Police Force, yesterday continued his testimony in the “Voire dire” (trial within a trial) of the ongoing treason trial into the cautionary and voluntary statements obtained from Tamsir Jasseh, former Director of Immigration, Omar Faal Keita and Demba Dem, former NAM for Niani (CRR).

The trio are among the civilians allegedly involved in the 21st March, 2006 foiled coup.

Appearing before Justice Avril Annin Yeboah of the High Court, Detective Cham said, he informed Tijan Bojang, the independent witness about a panel set up to investigate into the alleged foiled coup and soldiers and civilians were brought in as suspects.

Responding to questions during the cross-examination by Lamin Camara, Defence Counsel for Tamsir Jasseh, Detective Cham, told court that he informed Tijan Bojang that his role was to witness statement independently, statements that were being recorded without force or duress.

According to him, he also informed Tijan Bojang that, he (Tijan) has the right to ask the suspects whether they are satisfied with the statements, adding that “I further told Tijan that he can also go through the statements to enable him remember what have been written”. He added that if both parties are satisfied with the statements, he (Tijan) should sign a column marked “independent witness” and further informed him that he might be asked to appear before a court of law to testify as an independent witness. “I did made the statements in English. And it’s correct that Tijan Bojang read both exhibit MN(B) and MN (A) obtained from Tamsir Jasseh,” he explained.

Detective Cham recalled that he went with the accused persons in an office to obtain their statements, adding that he took the statement of Tamsir Jasseh in the presence of an independent witness on 25th April 2006.

However, he told the court that the independent witness showed up lately, when he obtained the first statement from the accused person. He then noted that Jasseh’s statement was taken in the afternoon, but cannot recall the specific time.

He revealed that he wrote a phrase: “Additional statement”, at the top left corner of exhibit MN (A), which was dated by the accused person himself and appended his own signature.

Detective Cham told the court that he knew Babou Loum, one of the independent witnesses, who is a career-video operator in Barra. He informed the court it was him, who filled in Babou Loum’s name on the statement.

Asked by Counsel Camara whether Babou Loum is literate? Detective Cham replied that, Babou Loum could read and understand English.

Detective Cham said he “will be very surprised to know” Babou Loum as an undercover of the NIA, when asked Counsel Camara.

Responding to questions by Lamin Jobarteh, Counsel for Alieu Jobe, Omar Faal Keita and Demba Dem, Detective Cham said, the alleged coup plot was investigated by a panel of investigators at the NIA Headquarters in Banjul. According to him, all the cautionary statements of the three accused persons were recorded at the NIA Headquarters, while their voluntary statements were recorded at the State Central Prisons at Mile II.

Detective Cham said the three accused persons were detained at the State Central Prisons, after their arrest, adding that he did not see any court order remanding the accused persons in the custody.

He said he knew the Omar Faal Keita, the seventh accused person “very well”. He told the court that the accused can speak English. The court continues sitting on March 14.