Sergeant Lamin Cham, the investigation police officer (IPO) in the ongoing kidnapping case involving Karamo Saidy and Omar Jarjusey, both personnel of The Gambia Police Force, last Tuesday, concluded his testimony  at the Bundung  Magistrates Court.

Continuing his testimony before Senior Magistrate  Kumba Sillah-Camara under cross-examination by Defence Counsel Lamin Camara, IPO Sergeant Cham told the court that he was among the investigating police officers who obtained voluntary statements from the accused persons leading to their subsequent detention and prosecution.

According to him, he has  never known the complainants before but he hadbeen told that they are one Mr John and Johanase, who lodged a complain with the police on March 1, 2007.

He further revealed to the court that he had not actually spoken or recorded any statement from the complainants since he had never seen them and cannot establish who they are.

He went on to say that he learnt during the course of the investigation that the complainants are drug dealers and that the co-accused  have never admitted kidnapping, robbing or taking anything from anybody while on duty as police officers but did admit being offered money by the complainants during the cause of their investigation.

It could be recalled that the duo are facing trial on three  charges of conspiracy, kidnapping and robbery with violent conduct. According to the charge sheet, in the month of March 2007, at Kololi, Omar Jarjusey and Karamo Saidy connived and stole the sum of €3,000 from one Mr John.

Count two states that on  March 1, 2007, at Brufut in the Western Region, Omar Jarjusey and Karamo Saidy kidnapped or abducted one Mr John, at the Elephant Guest House in Brufut from March 1 -2, 2007.

Count three states that on  March 1, 2007 at Kololi in the KMC, Omar Jarjusey and Karamo Saidy forcefully robbed one Mr John and Johanese of €3,000. Both men pleaded not guilty.