NIA analysis director testifies in court

Thursday, October 9, 2008

The director of analysis at the National Intelligence Agency  (name withheld), on Wednesday, appeared in court concerning the false information charges preferred against Aziz Dampha, an intelligence officer stationed in Mansakonko, Lower River Region.

In his evidence in-chief before the Banjul Magistrate court presided over by Magistrate Mbai, the NIA analysis director told the court that sometime in July this year his attention was called to a report relating to the governor of Lower River Region. He said the summary of the report was distributed for internal consumption. At that juncture, the police prosecutor, Cadet Inspector Keita, applied to tender the said report in court but the director of analysis told the court that he might not be able to give the full detail of the report unless he got clearance from his boss.

Reacting to the application made by the prosecutor, the defense counsel, Lamin Jobarteh, told the court that it is better for the prosecution not to tender the said report, pointing to the fact that if he tendered the report, he (the defence counsel) would have to cross examine the witness on it and he would read the detailed report in court.

At that juncture, the presiding magistrate intervened and said his court was not a kangaroo one. According to him, it is the duty of the prosecution to know what to tender.

Subsequently the case was adjourned to October 21 for mention and November 12 for full hearing.

Author: Modou Kanteh & Musa Ndow