By: Isatou Sarr
It could be recalled that prosecutors charged Dawda Tambia with an alleged offence of rape contrary to section 3(1)(a) (2)(b)(c) of the Sexual Offences Act (2013).
It’s alleged that Dawda Tamba, on or about 22 September 2024, at Penyem Village, West Coast Region, had intentionally, under a coercive circumstance, engaged in a sexual act to rape (name withheld).
When the case was called on Wednesday before Magistrate I.O. Njie at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court, Deputy Superintendent Buteh Sawaneh announced his appearance for the Inspector General of Police.
During the cross-examination of the accused, DPS Sawaneh asked him if he was hired by the victim, what the agreed amount was, and if he had taken the victim to the final destination.
The accused in his reply explained that he was hired by the victim, bargained on the charge, and agreed to pay D500, But that he did not take the victim to the agreed destination thus the victim refused to pay the agreed price of D500.
The prosecutor put to the accused that his information to the court was false, pointing out that the accused instead forcefully had canal knowledge of the victim by raping her in the bush in the outskirts of Penyem Village as he threatened her with a knife. But Tamba denied that allegation.
The prosecution asked the accused whether he had an accident on the way and if he had reported the matter to any police station as per the Traffic Act. The accused confirmed that he hit a NAWEC electric pole because he was having a push and pull with the victim to pay the money. He added that he went to the Brikama Police Station to report the matter, but the traffic unit was closed. However, the prosecution replied: “That information is not correct. For the past 50 years, the Brikama Police Station operates 24 hours.”
So, “I am putting to you that you told the eyewitness (PW5) that you had hit the electric pole because it was the police who were pursuing you. During your conversation with the eyewitness, you ran away and left your phone and other belongings with the victim in the taxi. These materials were brought to the police station by the eyewitness at 3 a.m. and I further put to you that after raping her, you heartlessly went to an extreme of urinating in her mouth,” DPS Sawaneh emotionally said with tears.
The accused told the court that he reported his accident the following morning to Brikama Police Station and found an officer named Mr. Kinteh, but was not given any reference number to the case reported. Again, DPS Sawaneh argued that the information was incorrect stating that all reported cases must have a reference number from the police.
The prosecutor informed the court that the accused was identified by the police because his picture was seen on his phone’s screen. However, the accused claimed that he voluntarily reported himself to the police.
“The victim also identified you amongst other detainees at the police station. The victim could not hold her emotions and had to slap you,” Sawaneh put to the accused before the court full with people.
When asked who collected the taxi from the accident scene, the accused responded, “I believed it was my boss (the owner of the taxi).” The prosecutor said that information again was false informing the court that the taxi was collected from the scene by the police.
DPS Sawaneh finally put to Dawda Tamba that all his narrations to the court were not true and that the accused was only wasting the court’s time, saying, “You knew that the act was done by you.”
At this juncture, the matter was adjourned to 2nd October for judgement.
