Capt. Seckan, Prosecution Witness 1 (PW1) yesterday concluded his testimony before Justice Amin-Yeboah of the High Court as the treason trial involving the 21st March coup suspects continued.

In his testimony, Capt. Seckan told the court that when he went back to his office from Col. Ndure Cham’s office, he proceeded to Capt. Dem’s office and informed him about what transpired between him and the Col. Ndure Cham. He said he then called a National Intelligence Agency (NIA) officer and told him what transpired between him and Col. Ndure Cham, adding that the NIA officer suggested that he met senior NIA officers.

He however stated that they agreed to meet after working hours. He added that between 2:00 and 3:00pm, he received a call from Capt. Bunja Darboe to say that they should meet at Laybato bar and restaurant. He said the NIA officer was at Capt. Dem’s office when Col. Ndure Cham came to his office and, after a brief session of pleasantries, Col. Ndure Cham told him that he was coming from a National Security Council meeting at which nothing of the plot was mentioned.

He said that Col. Ndure Cham expressed the hope that the operation would be a real success. Then, he continued, the ex-CDS produced a list of those to be arrested, with an instruction that whoever resisted arrest should be shot.

Capt. Seckan further adduced that Col. Ndure Cham told him to disregard the meeting proposed by Capt. Bunja Darboe and meet him at a specific venue he would later on disclose. He said when Col. Ndure Cham left, he went to Capt Dem’s office to inform the NIA officer about what was happening. He said he again received a phone call from Capt. Bunja Darboe informing him that the previous meeting was cancelled but that they would meet.

He said after receiving the call from Capt. Bunja Darboe, he informed the NIA officer about the meeting time with Capt. Bunja Darboe. He said he explained all to the NIA officer and that he was even cross-examined by the NIA. He testified that he received a call from Ndure Cham informing him that the proposed 1900 hours meeting be cancelled but that they should report as agreed at 2300 hours, which was confirmed by Capt. Bunja Darboe when they spoke on phone. He said he later called Col. Ndure Cham, who scolded him for being too stupid not to know that the presidential delegation in Mauritanian was aware about the operation.

He said he then called the NIA officer and informed him that there would be no meeting and that the operation would start at 2300 hours, and further suggested to the NIA officer that they should start arresting at 2100 hours. He said he joined the NIA officers until late at night when he was asked to make a statement.

He said when the defense counsel put it to him during cross-examination that he too was arrested from the 21st March to 4th April 2006, and detained at the NIA, he named those he knew were arrested in connection to the coup plot. “These are Capt. Bunja Darboe, Capt. Wassa Camara, Capt. Yahya Darboe, Capt. Pierre Mendy, Capt. AK Jah, Lt MA Bah, 2nd Lt Pharing Sanyang, Alagie Nying, Tamsir Jasseh, Alieu Jobe and Hon Demba Dem. He also identified Omar Keita, alias Omar Faal.

Hearing continues on November 8th 2006.