By: Nicholas Bass
The Government Spokesperson, Ebrima G. Sankareh and Deputy Inspector General of Police Momodou Sowe on Tuesday denied seeing and having the CCTV footage of Ousainou Bojang, the man accused of killing two police officers and injuring another.
Testifying before Honourable Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of Banjul High Court, the Government Spokesperson, Mr. Sankareh and Deputy IGP, Mr. Sowe, both denied seeing and having the CCTV footages of the Ousainou Bojang, the prime suspect of the alleged shooting of three police officers.
Therese Fatou Gomez, Senior Manager and Program Controller of West Coast Radio, presented the audio interview version Mr. Sankareh had with Peter Gomez on West Coast Radio on 14 September 2023, on Coffee Time, the state’s mouthpiece adduced that 12 September 2023 PIU shooting would have claim dozens lives of police officers.
Sankareh, however, did not dismiss the content of the interview he had with Mr. Peter Gomez after it was played to the hearing of everyone in a jam-packed courtroom.
Under cross-examination with defence counsel Adama Sillah, representing the second accused, Amie Bojang, the Government spokesperson, Sankareh disclosed that at the time a prime suspect was arrested by the Joint Investigation Team.
When asked by defence counsel Sillah to ascertain whether he stated that the alleged gunner was a rebel from Casamance, Sankareh dismissed the assertion, adding that he was unable to recall saying so.
The Director of Public Prosecution, A.M. Yusuf objected to the line of the question, arguing that the assertion that one would be wrong if an individual is in the view of cross examination
DPP’s objection at that point was overruled and the court ordered defence counsel Sillah to continue.
Consequently, when defence counsel Sillah asked the six witnesses [DW6], Sankareh to tell the court if the person who revealed the alleged PIU shooter received D1 million as promised by President Barrow, he was quick to decline, adding ‘’ I don’t know’’.
The lead prosecuting Officer, Yusuf, strongly objected to the defence counsel Sillah when, he pressed Sankareh to tell the court whether he ever speak to the ‘’public’’ on a murder case, as DPP Yusuf claimed that such question was meant to annoy Mr.Sankareh.
The government spokesperson deduced that it was overwhelming for the state to address the alleged police murder, noting that he did not mention the second accused, Amie Bojang.
Defence sixth witness, Sankareh when asked by defence lawyer Sillah to confirm to the court if he preferred the interview, he had with Peter Gomez over his testimony in court, DPP stood with an objection, stating that such ought to be raised at the address stage of the case.
Meanwhile, the seventh defence witness [DW7], Momodou Sowe, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, denied saying that the prime suspect, Bojang, was with a weapon, explaining that he did not know the actual time the PIU shooting occurred at Sukuta Traffic Light.
Deputy IGP, Sowe was quick to deny knowing the person(s) who evacuated the victims of the PIU shooting while admitting having a press briefing on 15 September 2023.
When questioned by defence counsel Lamin J. Darboe for the first accused, Ousainou Bojang, whether he had the press brief he had on 15 September 2023, he responded by saying he did not have it in his possession.
At that stage the defence counsel Darboe applied to the court to have the video recorded version of the press briefing dated 15 September 2023, urging the court to order the IGP, QTV, Kerr Fatou, Fatou Network to appear before the court and produce the said press briefing.
Despite the objection raised by DPP Yusuf, who pleaded with the court to dismiss the defence’s application on grounds that such ought to be filed through a deposed affidavit.
The trial court, after hearing both parties, stated that the court cannot be tied to technicalities which, according to the presiding Judge, will prolong the proceedings of the case.
Justice Jaiteh at that stage issued an order to IGP, managing Director of QTV, Kerr Fatou and Fatou Network to appear in court at the next adjourned date and produce the video recorded press briefing of The Gambia dated 15 September 2023.