Detective Lamin Cham of the Major Crime Unit of The Gambia Police Force yesterday told the court in the ongoing treason trial involving Tamsir Jasseh, Alieu Jobe, Omar Faal Keita and Demba Dem in connection with the March 21, 2006 foiled coup, that during the course of the investigation, Tamsir Jasseh informed the panel that the ex-Chief of Defense staff, Colonel Ndure Cham promised him the post of Inspector General of Police if the coup succeeded.

In a marathon testimony which lasted for nearly four hours before Justice Avril Annin Yeboah of the Banjul High Court, Detective Cham said during the course of the investigation by the panel, they also discovered that Mr. Jasseh knew Colonel Ndure Cham when he was the Deputy Inspector General of Police and the Director General of Immigration.

“Tamsir Jasseh further revealed to the panel that he advised Cham not to destroy the infrastructure but to instead remove certain switches at the Abuko Earth Station, Gamcel, Gamtel, and Africell so that when these fuses were removed they could be easily replaced after the coup”, said  Detective Cham.

According to him, Tamsir then visited Abuko Earth Station, Gamcel, Africell and after locating these switches, he, Jasseh, drew a map and handed it to the ex-Chief of Defence Staff. He revealed that on the day of the coup, Jasseh said that Ndure Cham told him to remove the switch which he refused to do and handed the map to Captain Wassa Camara who is currently serving his sentence at the State Central Prisons for a similar offense.

 “Tamsir informed us that Captain Wassa Camara was to go and remove the switch as on the map, but was unable to remove it as he did not meet Mr. Njie at Abuko Earth Station. On the day of the coup, Jasseh told us that Colonel Ndure Cham informed him that the coup had leaked and that he was running away”, he went on.

Detective Cham added: “Jasseh told us that on the 23rd of March 2006, he went to Farato where he picked ex-Col Ndure Cham from his hiding place at the residence of Isatou Lowe with his white Land Rover through the help of one Mustapha Lowe who was on the way to direct him to where Colonel Ndure Cham was”.

According to Cham, the accused (Tamsir) told them that he drove with Colonel Ndure Cham along the Brikama Darsilami road with the aid of Mustapha Lowe who went in advance to determine whether there were any military or police check points ahead. Detective Cham added that the said white Land Rover is currently impounded at the NIA headquarters.

Omar Faal Keita

Continuing his testimony, Detective Cham said during the course of their investigation, Omar Faal Keita, the 7th accused told the panel that he (Omar Faal Keita) was in Nairobi when one Mr. Deen, a staff of the Department of Physical Planning, informed him about the coup plot and that he wanted him (the 7th accused) to do some marabout works for them.

According to Detective Cham, the 7th accused (Omar Faal Keita) also informed them that he spoke to Alieu Jobe (the sixth accused) who also informed him that Colonel Ndure Cham wanted to overthrow the government of The Gambia and had promised him (Alieu Jobe)  the presidency.

Detective Cham continued that the 7th accused told the panel that Alieu Jobe also expressed his interest and desire in the coup which was supposed to take place on Tobaski Day.

“Omar Faal Keita told the panel that the next scheduled date chosen for the coup was on the day The Gambia celebrates her Independency. After a series of marabout works and prayers, the 7th accused person had seen some signs of betrayal and told them to rescheduled it”, Detective Cham narrated to the court.

Detective Cham added: “Omar Faal Keita informed them after his marabout works and prayers, that the President’s term was finished as he had seen the President riding on a bicycle from State House adding that whether there was a coup or not, the President’s term was finished.  He [Omar Faal Keita] said he was given a list of names which involved those arrested and to protect those who were not yet arrested”, Detective Cham continued.

Demba Dem

According to Detective Cham, during the course of their investigation into the case, Demba Dem, the 8th accused person, said he knew Alieu Jobe for years and they did a lot of things together. He revealed to the panel that Alieu Jobe informed him about the coup months before.

Detective Cham told the court that Demba Dem told the panel that Alieu Jobe gave him D1,200 to travel to Sokone in Senegal to visit a marabout.

“Demba Dem told the panel that he informed Captain Nfamara Jammeh of the State Guards to be mindful on March 21, 2006. Captain Jammeh told him that he would inform his Officer Commanding (0C) at the State Guards about it. During our investigation, Captain Jammeh was called in order to clarify the statement made by Demba Dem. He said he never spoke to the Demba Dem, neither did he inform him (Cpt Jammeh) about the foiled coup”,  said Detective Cham.

He finally added that during the course of their investigation, witnesses were called to confirm or disprove what was said by the accused persons.

At that juncture, Lawyer Lamin Camara, counsel for Tamsir Jasseh, crossed examine Detective Cham. The trial continues today.