A medic at the Mile 2 central prisons, Sgt. Bakary Wharf Kujabi, yesterday testified at the ongoing treason trial of the four civilians taking place before Justice Anin-Yeboah at the Banjul High Court.

In his testimony, Sgt. Kujabi told the court that he had been in prison service for almost eight years. He explained that his role as a prison medic was to go around the cells to check the health status of inmates. According to him he exercised this duty three times a day, adding that major cases of illness thus detected were referred to the RVTH while minor cases were treated at their level.

Sgt. Kujabi affirmed that he knew the 6th accused person, Alieu Jobe, whom he met on 25th March 2006 while he was conducting routine check-ups at the security wing of Mile 2 prison. He said that on that day Alieu Jobe did not complain about anything regarding his health. He further testified that on 28th March 2006, he again went for routine check-up, which also passed without a complaint from Alieu Jobe about his health, neither did he detect any injuries on him. According to him on 3rd and 14th April 2006, the same routine was repeated but Alieu Jobe made no complaint about his health. He related that between March and April 2006 he was the one on official duty at the central prison, adducing that in all the occasion the 6th accused was taken to the NIA he was escorted by soldiers.

Also testifying was Babou Loum, an independent witness, who stated that he is a video operator by profession. According to him, on 25th and 28 March 2006, he witnessed the obtaining of the cautionary statements of the 6th accused person, Alieu Jobe, in his capacity as the independent witness. He said on this occasion Alieu Jobe was informed by Detective Boto Keita that he was not under any force and that he was free to write all he knew about the foiled coup. He added that Alieu Jobe chose to write his own statement, adding that at the end of statement the three, the accused, the officer taking the statement and the independent witness, signed the statement.

He further adduced that on 14th April 2006 he again witnessed the obtaining of statement from Alieu Jobe by detective Boto Keita. He said the same procedure was applied and Alieu Jobe was provided with the cautionary statement and Officer Boto Keita told him that he was free to write all what he knew about the foiled coup. He added that at the end of the statement the three signed the statement again.

Hearing continues today.