By Lamin sanyang The village head (Alkali) of Bijilo has yesterday, Thursday, 18 December, testified before Justice Emmanuel Amadi of the Special Criminal Division of the High Court in the case involving the state against Mr. Momodou Sabally, former Secretary General, Head of the Civil Service and Minister of Presidential Affairs at the Banjul High Court. Alkali Sulayman Jatta, the second prosecution witness (Pw2), in his evidence-in-chief, told the Court that he is the village head of Bijilo and is an employee of the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC). He said he recognized the accused (Sabally) when they went to his house with Sheikh Omar Bah (Pw1) and Mr. Hassan Ndoye. The second prosecution witness told the Court that Mr. Ndoye, a Senegalese national, was first introduced to him by one Kebba Jallow who informed him that Mr. Ndoye has brought two vehicles to the country. He said he went to Kebba’s house who told him that Mr. Ndoye has two vehicles which he wanted to sell to the president. At this juncture, the defense Lawyer Antouman Gaye raised an objection, arguing that part of the witness’ narration that Mr. Ndoye brought two vehicles to sell to the president was hearsay evidence. He further argued that the issue to this matter is as to whether these cars are for sale or donation and therefore urged the court to expunge that part of the evidence. The witness said Kebba Jallow told him that Mr. Ndoye was finding it difficult to see the president. He said he told him that he cannot take him to the president but can introduce him to his in-law (Pw1), who is a friend of the accused, adding that his in-law later came to his house and introduced him to Mr. Ndoye and took them to the house of the accused to see the vehicles. “After seeing the vehicles, the accused said the vehicles are very beautiful that if the president sees them he will like them,” said Mr. Jatta. The witness told the court that the accused and Mr. Ndoye had a long conversation during which he (Ndoye) told him that he wanted to sell the vehicles to the president. He said the accused told them that he was in a hurry to go to Banjul but that if he could see the president, he would explain to him about the vehicles and would call them back. He said he received a call from his in-law on the same day who told him that the accused said they should try to be in Banjul at 6pm. He said they met the accused at the gate of July 22 Square. At this juncture, the state prosecutor applied for an adjournment. Subsequently, the matter was adjourned to 9th February 2015, for continuation of evidence in chief of Pw2. ]]>
