By Kebba Jeffang
Lawyer Modou Drammeh, counsel for Sheikh Cham, during cross examination, has told the second prosecution witness, that 
contrary to his claim, he was not the one who arrested and tortured his client.
He said this yesterday, Monday, August 31, 2015 during the proceedings before Magistrate Kijera at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court. The Drug Law Enforcement Agency-The Gambia was represented by their prosecutor, M. Jallow.
In response, Adama Bah, a narcotic officer, insisted that he alone was the one who arrested the accused person, adding that the accused was not tortured at all by anyone.
He told the court that nothing was found in the possession of the accused person and his friend when the two were confronted.
“I put it to you that the first person that approached the accused person was taller than you,” said the defence counsel. The witness responded in the negative.
When he was asked to name his other colleagues that were on the ground with him, the witness said “my colleagues were NCA3 Abdoulie Kebbeh, NCA1 Batch Kinteh, NCA1 Mboge, NCA1 Mendy and NCA1 Sallah.”
“I put it to you that it was Batch Kinteh who first approached and assaulted the accused person at the scene of the arrest and at the station,” said counsel. The 2nd prosecution witness insisted that he was the first person to approach the accused and that he was not assaulted at all.
“I put it to you that it was your unprofessional manner which led to the accused to ask for your identification,” said counsel. The witness said he approached the accused in a professionally way and with respect by showing him his warrant card.
“I put it to you that Batch Kinteh was the first person to approach and torture my client and the rest of your team then joined in,” emphasized the lawyer. “No, he was not assaulted at all,” PW2 told the court.
The second witness said the accused person caused their mission to fail by shouting and alerting the neighborhood. He said they were tipped off that at that particular point and time, some people do come with drugs and that was why they were there. He said they have approached the accused because they suspected him but nothing was found on him and his friend. He said the accused refused to be searched and that was the reason why he was taken to the DLEA station in Wellingara.
Counsel Drammeh put it to the witness that he only assumed that the accused saw his warrant card but when in actual fact he did not as it was dark. The witness responded that he did switch on his flash light on the card to show the accused.
At this juncture, the matter was adjourned to Wednesday, 9th September, 2015 at 1pm.
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