At Court Martial: Detective Police Officer Testifies

Saturday, November 4, 2006
Detective 1580 Abdoulie Sowe of the Major Crime Unit yesterday testified before the court martial at the Yundum military barracks in a trial within a trial on the cautionary statement of Capt. Wassa Camara.

In his testimony, detective 1580 Sowe, told the Court martial that on the 21st March 2006, when the coup plot against the elected president and commander- in -chief of the Gambia Armed Forces was foiled, a panel of investigation was set up of which he was a member. He said on the 22nd March 2006, the accused Capt. Wassa Camara, was brought before the panel where he was asked of his involvement and role in the foiled coup.

He said after his explanations to the panel, he gave a Cautionary statement in the presence of an independent witness called Tijan Bojang. He said Capt. Wassa Camara chose to write his own statement which was signed by him and the independent witness.

He added that on the 29th March 2006 the accused Capt. Wassa was again brought back to the panel where he was asked certain questions and after a brief explanation he was asked to give an extra statement, which he did in the presence of an independent witness, Babou Lowe. He said he read the statement back to the accused with the caution that he need not say anything, but whatever he said would be taken in writing and may be given as evidence against him in a court of law.

Asked by the defence counsel, Lawyer Lamin Jobarteh, as to why the suspects were put before the GRTS, the state witness detective 1580 Sowe told the court that Capt. Camara told him that he is the head of the provost Marshal in The Gambia Armed Forces and that he and his co-suspects have regretted their involvement because they had been messed up by Col. Ndure Cham and their Marabouts, and therefore wished to apologise for whatever alarm they have caused the general public on that day. He said the panel took it upon themselves to invite GRTS for the suspects to talk to the general public on their own free will.
Author: By Modou Sanyang & Sarata J. Dibba
Source: The Point
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