By Kemeseng Sanneh
Lamin Y.K Sanneh, an employee of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency of
The Gambia (DLEAG) on Tuesday continued with his testimony in the drug trafficking and money laundering trial of Paulo Djabi, his wife, and others.
Sanneh previously explained how they arrested Paulo and his co defendants as well as detailed how the first accused person’s vehicles and other properties were taken from him. On Tuesday, it was a continuation of his testimony.
“Mr Sanneh In your evidence you said the vehicles are packed in
Kairaba police station as well as in CTI?” Senior State Counsel Lamin
Jarju asked.
“Yes,” the witness said
He clarified that the vehicles seized are parked at Kotu Police Station and CTI. He said the numbers are 12 vehicles, 3 motorcycles,
and 1 jet ski.
He said 3 vehicles are parked at the Kairaba Police Station, which are1 white Mitsubishi Pajero, 1 Porsche, and 1 Toyota.
The witness pointed at the vehicle inside the police station to the view of the court.
“Where are the keys to the vehicle?” Counsel Jarju asked.
The witness said the keys were not found and that was the reason why the vehicle was still parked at the said station.
The witness also pointed at the black Toyota, which he said was a
private vehicle. He further pointed at the black Porsche.
“Do you want the 3 vehicles to be part of the evidence?” Jarju asked.
“Yes,” he replied.
He said the keys to the 2 vehicles were also not found. He added that
the vehicles were found at Paulo’s residence.
Jarju applied to the court to admit the 3 vehicles in evidence.
The court ruled that the vehicles would be in the custody of the
station officer after he admitted them in evidence.
The defense team requested for the court to allow them to provide covers for the vehicles, which was granted.
The court left the Kairaba Police Station and proceeded to the CTI
Unit. The witness said there are 9 vehicles at the DLEAG’s CTI Unit
together with 3 motorcycles and a jet ski.
“What type of vehicles are parked in Bijilo?” Jarju asked.
“Precisely, about 3 are Mitsubishi Benz, about three silver Jeeps, a
BMW, a dogdg RAM 1500, a jet ski, and 3 motorcycles,” the witness
said.
They were parked in different locations within the premises of the ICT.
The witness led the court to the vehicles and pointed at them for identification purposes.
“Where did you find these vehicles during the course of your investigation?” Jarju asked.
“All of the vehicles, motorcycles, and jet ski were seized at
different locations by a joint investigation team, of which I was a
member. Some were seized at Fajara Waterfront, Envy Night Club, Baraka
Estate at Bakoteh, and the exact locations of the rest of the vehicles
I cannot remember,” he said.
State counsel applied to tender the vehicles and the motorcycle
identified by the witness into evidence.
“I am applying for the vehicles to be at the custodian of the station
officer of the DLEAG-ICT Unit in Bijilo,” Jarju said.
The court granted the application.
Defence counsel applied for the court to allow the accused persons to
start the engine of the cars weekly under the supervision of a DLEAG
officer.
The court granted the application.
The witness said the motorcycles, the jet ski, and the Jeep Wrangler
had no keys as they were all towed.
The case was adjourned to 28 October at noon.
