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One Ousman Jatta of Kombo Brufut who identified himself as a shop keeper has testified in the trial against Ibrahim Bun Sanneh and four other accused persons who are standing trial before Justice Emmanuel Amadi of the Banjul High Court on 30 counts of conspiracy to commit felony, stealing by person in public service, aiding and abetting theft by public servant, unlawful possession of fire arms, unlawful possession of life ammunition, concealment and destroying of evidence, official corruption, abuse of office, economic crimes, obtaining goods by false pretence, making document without lawful authority and forgery.
The accused persons are Ibrahim Bun Sanneh, former NDEA executive director, Karamo Bojang, former deputy executive director of NDEA, Ousman Sanneh, former employee of NDEA, Marie Sanneh, civilian and Seedou Bojang, former accountant of NDEA.
In his testimony, the prosecution witness revealed to the court how the 2nd accused person Karamo Bojang was involved in the trade in cocaine. According to him, he came to know the 2nd accused person through one Amie Njie who worked at the NDEA, and that soon they formed an acquaintance. PW2 said their acquaintance blossomed and he would send the 2nd accused person cooking oil and a bag of rice.
According to him, he received a call from the 2nd accused person on a particular day, whereupon he was asked to meet the 2nd accused at a place opposite Sheraton Hotel.
He revealed that the 2nd accused person Karamo Bojang informed him that he had been involved in business with one Manjang Janko but whenever he gave goods to him (Janko), the said Janko fail to return his money. Thus, he introduced the business to him, to wit, to deal in cocaine. The 2nd accused person then went into lecturing him of the trade: a kilo of cocaine cost D600,000, and for every kilo received, a fake mixture should be made.
This fake mixture was being made through the help of one Ike and another Emeka. The witness said these two people have mastered how to make a fake mixture with baking flour. The witness said he soon sold the first kilo given to him, as instructed, and gave the D600,000 to the 2nd accused person. Ditto the second time when he sold half a kilo at D400,000 to one Tijan Jallow.
However, the said Tijan Jallow complained that what was sold to him was not up to a kilo, and demanded a refund of his money. “He told me that if I did not refund his money, he would report me to the NDEA. It was then I received a call from the 3rd accused person Ousman Sanneh that I should report to him at his office. Upon my arrival at his office, he then told me to go with him to the office of the 2nd accused person Karamo Bojang. When we went to the 2nd accused person Karamo Bojang’s office, he told us that we could not the matter at his office and that we went to the Bund Road in Banjul,” the witness revealed.
He told the court that when he went to the Bund Road with the 2nd and 3rd accused persons, the 3rd accused person called Tijan Jallow, Momodou Musa and Ebou Lolly because at the initial stage of the business that Momodou Musa and Ebou Lolly were present.
“It was there the 3rd accused person Ousman Sanneh told me that he want me to give the money amounting D400, 000 to Tijan Jallow immediately or to give him (Tijan Jallow) a full kilo of cocaine. I told him that I don’t have money in my possession because I had given the said money to the owner of the cocaine. I told them that the only way that I could pay this money was to give Tijan Jallow my title deed.”
At this point, this suggestion was accepted and he later gave the title deed to the said Tijan Jallow at a place opposite Serrekunda police station in the presence of one Ousman, a JP. He said he also phoned the 3rd accused person Ousman Sanneh to inform him about handing over the title deed to Tijan Jallow as agreed. He revealed that he gave some of the remaining half kilo of cocaine to one Pa Dodou to sell it but he (Pa Dodou) was arrested with it. He further said that he sold the other remaining cocaine at a sum of D200, 000.
“After selling the remaining cocaine, I called one Amie Njie who works at NDEA to accompany me to go and see the 2nd accused person Karamo Bojang. Upon our arrival at the 2nd accused person Karamo Bojang’s residence, I gave him the money but the time I was giving him the money, Amie Njie was in Karamo Bojang’s wife’s house.
“When Pa Dodou was arrested, he told the officers that the cocaine was hidden in my wife’s kitchen and as a result of it, my wife was also arrested,” the witness Ousman Jatta said.
He said when his wife, Maimuna was arrested, the 2nd accused person Karamo Bojang gave instruction for her to be released immediately but Maimuna and Pa Dodou were later arraigned before a court.
He also told the court that the 2nd accused person Karamo Bojang told him that somebody brought the drug for him from Guinea Bissau.
Defense counsel, lawyer Pap Cheyassin Secka, then proceeded to cross-examine the witness, Ousman Jatta.
In his response, the witness maintained that he had spoken the truth in his testimony. According to him, he did not inform the 3rd accused person of the deal between him and the 2nd accused person. He also said that he did not inform the 2nd accused person that he was giving his title deed to the said Tijan Jallow when the latter demanded a refund of his money.
The case was then adjourned to 24th May, 2010 for continuation.