By Kemeseng Sanneh (Kexx)
The murder trial of Ousainou and Amie Bojang also known as the police shooting case continued on Tuesday with the production of the requested interview audio.
Therese Fatou Gomez, daughter of veteran journalist Peter Gomez, appeared before Justice Jaiteh to submit a court-ordered audio recording. The recording, an interview with government spokesperson Ebrima G. Sankareh on the “Coffee Time Show,” was requested by Counsel Adama Sillah during his cross-examination of Sankareh.
When the case was called by Justice Ebrima Jaiteh, saw A.M. Yusuf representing the state, while Counsel L.J. Darboe and Adama Sillah appeared for the first and second accused persons, respectively. The proceedings began with Justice Jaiteh indicating a continuation from the previous day’s hearing.
Upon being called to the stand, Therese Fatou Gomez, CEO and Program Controller of West Coast Radio, was asked by Justice Jaiteh, “We ordered you to produce a document. Do you have the document?”
“Yes, I have the document,” Therese Fatou Gomez responded, confirming her compliance. She then produced a flash drive containing the requested audio and handed it to the court. With no objection from the defense counsel, the court admitted the audio, marked it as DD3, and ordered it to be played aloud in the courtroom.
Following the playing of the audio, Counsel Adama Sillah resumed his cross-examination of Ebrima G. Sankareh.
“We have just listened to an altered audio with Peter. So can you tell the court how many suspects were arrested?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“One suspect was arrested at Jujulung, identified as Ousainou Bojang, but I was told that some were arrested,” Ebrima G. Sankareh replied.
Counsel Sillah continued, “At the time you made the interview, you said there were allegedly co-conspirators as per the information you gathered.”
“I did not say that, you cannot use language to cage me, what I said was half a dozen. You are using language and language is my specialty. If you say something that is not representative of what I said, it is horrendous,” Sankareh retorted.
“We are on cross-examination and I will ask questions inconvenient to you,” Counsel Sillah stated.
At this point, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) interjected, saying, “I know this is a cross-examination but the assertion is wrong. He can ask a question but not paraphrase it.”
Counsel Sillah then asked, “Were there co-conspirators that were assembled in a mosque at the time of the interview?”
“Regarding the surveillance, was this information also given to you as evidence by the police? Were you given the information allegedly surveilled on the police stations/paramilitary post?” Counsel Sillah pressed.
“Yes, I was given the information that the attacker was on a surveil on police stations,” Sankareh confirmed.
“So, were you given the information that a dozen of police officers were to be killed?” Sillah inquired.
“There is a probability that more than six people,” Sankareh responded.
“There was a one million dalasis bounty, whoever could disclose the whereabouts of the killer. Did the person who disclosed receive the money?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“I don’t know. I didn’t follow up the trajectory of the money. I was given the information and I communicated it,” Sankareh replied.
“So, who should give the information about a murder case?” Sillah questioned.
“Every agency of the state can do so, and as the government spokesperson I can give the information,” Sankareh stated.
“Did the police not have a PRO who can relay information to the public?” Sillah further asked.
“Yes, they have,” Sankareh affirmed.
“Throughout history, have you ever seen a Government spokesperson served as a PRO?” Counsel Sillah challenged.
“That has nothing to do with the subject matter. Asking him that question is very offensive,” the DPP intervened.
“The question is material and is still premised on the subject matter,” Counsel Sillah argued.
“As a Government spokesperson, how many murder cases are reported in The Gambia by the IGP?” Counsel Sillah inquired.
“No, I don’t know,” Sankareh replied.
“All the murder cases. Have you ever made press any press briefing regarding other murder cases?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“I may have, but here I never made a press briefing, I made a radio interview,” Sankareh clarified.
“So, what is so special about the case that made you go out and have an interview about it?” Counsel Sillah probed.
“Like I said on the interview that the case is unprecedented in The Gambia’s history, and these are not ordinary people but police officers,” Sankareh explained.
“Was there anywhere that you allegedly made mention of my client during the interview?” Sillah asked.
“I only know of one alleged killer and I just knew of your client yesterday in court,” Sankareh stated.
“Do you know that the information you gave on West Coast Radio is the same thing before the court?” Counsel Sillah questioned.
“I don’t know,” Sankareh responded.
“Now, which one do you want to stick by, the interview at the radio or the event of the court session?” Counsel Sillah pressed.
The Director of Public Prosecution objected, and the question was overruled.
“Mr. Sankareh, in the audio, it was stated that there was a vehicle. Did you recover the vehicle?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“No,” Sankareh replied.
“Did you know/recognize the color of the vehicle?” Sillah asked.
“No,” Sankareh responded.
“Did you recognize the vehicle?” Counsel Sillah pressed.
“No,” Sankareh said.
“You said the accused person was a member of the UDP,” Counsel Sillah stated.
“I never mentioned political party. I never said that alleged shooter is a member of the UDP. I said allegedly he was a security officer of the Brikama Area Council. Yesterday I listened to audio and nowhere I mentioned UDP, and this pains me, people creating their own words,” Sankareh clarified.
“Counsel Sillah needs to be careful and caution, especially mentioning political parties,” the DPP argued.
“Our duty is to the court and not to any political party and my question has nothing to do with any political parties,” Counsel Adama Sillah responded.
“In the audio, references were made that they hired a lodge. Do you know the lodge they were residing at?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“No,” Sankareh replied.
“You mentioned a CCTV footage. Did you see the alleged shooter in the video wearing a hoodie?” Sillah inquired.
“I didn’t say I saw a footage, I saw a picture that showed the alleged shooter in a hoodie, which was all over social media,” Sankareh explained.
“How did you verify the information given to you by the police?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“Yes, I know and I have done that by verifying and re-verified, and that was information available at that time,” Sankareh stated.
“You know that as a Presidential adviser, you should verify first. How do you verify?” Counsel Sillah pressed.
“I’m at liberty to talk to anyone working in the government, and what I said during the interview was presented to me at the time during the investigations,” Sankareh responded.
“I’m putting to you that you have gone beyond your boundaries, going into the police duty giving comments about a murder case, which is the duty of the PRO,” Counsel Sillah asserted.
“I disagree, I’m the boss of the PRO,” Sankareh countered.
“Is Ousainou Bojang with a female companion?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“No, I don’t know,” Sankareh replied.
Counsel Adama Sillah concluded his cross-examination. With no further questions from the Director of Public Prosecution and no re-examination from defense counsel Lamin J. Darboe, government spokesperson Ebrima G. Sankareh was discharged.
