The ongoing criminal trial involving four men, Ousman Darboe, Kebba Ceesay, Basiru Sanneh, Famara Camara, Alagie Alieu Jagne and Ensa Jarju - who are facing charges of assault, this yesterday resumed at the Kanifing Magistrate court, presided over by the Senior Magistrate, Abdoulie Mbacke.

In his testimony, Lamin Saho, assistant general manager of Sun Beach Hotel told the court that on the 23rd of February 2009, while on duty, he decided to go around the hotel. According to him, when he arrived at a place called Lacosina within the hotel around 6:45pm, he heard a sound in English saying “help me”.

He said he then went into the kitchen where the sound was coming from and found the chef of the hotel, Ronaldo Del Greco, bent over while the accused persons were beating him. Saho further told the court that he rescued the man who was bleeding all over his face. According to him, he sustained injuries during the rescue. He added that he then informed the managing director of the hotel that the chef had been assaulted by some members of the hotel staff and the managing director then followed him to the complainant’s office.

He added that the managing director then observed the injuries on the complainant’s face and instructed him to take the chef to the Bakau Police Station, where they were advised to go to the Bakau Health Centre. He narrated that they were later transferred to RVTH where the chef was attended, where a medical certificate was issued.