November, 2014 at the Brikama Magistrate’s Court testified as the first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial involving Mr. Lamin Waa Juwara, the former Lands and Traditional Affairs Minister.
Mr. Juwara is facing single count of ‘Abuse of Office’ contrary to Section 90 (1) of the Criminal Code Cap 10:01, Vol 3, Laws of the Gambia, Revised Edition 2009. He denied any wrong doing.
In idenfying himself, the witness said he is Haruna Bojang, the Jamburr Alkalo and that he did recognize the accused person in the dock.
He narrated that it was on Friday afternoon when he received a phone call from the chief of Kombo South Mustapha Touray who told him that Sinchu Gidom has now been allocated an Alkalo.
“I know Sinchu Gidom because they are the strangers of Jarreh Kunda, a Kabilo in Jamburr,” PW1 said.
He said he asked the chief whether that should be done because as the Alkalo of Jamburr, he should be informed before splitting his village. He said the chief also told him that he also received the information from the Governor’s Office. The witness said Lamin Sanneh was the Governor at that time. He also said the accused person was the minister of local Government and Lands.
PW1 adduced that he is an Alkalo responsible of a village. He said when he got the information; he gathered his Kabilo (clan) Elders and told them about it. He said they have six Kabilos in Jamburr namely; Jabang, Bandeh, Jarreh, Morri and Bunja Kunda.
He said he told the elders what had happened and they decided to go to the chief, then to the Governor to further enquire about the issue. He said he did not go but the elders selected some people to go, among them is one Omar Bojang.
PW1 stated that they waited for a while but did not hear anything from either the chief or Governor and since the issue did not bring peace in the village, they wrote a letter and signed it and sent it to the NIA to investigate the matter and they also sent it to the office of the president.
He added that they waited for a long time and later received information that Momodou Jallow was removed as an Alkalo in Sinchu Gidom without his knowledge as an Alkalo of Jamburr.
He said the deputy Governor Bakary Jaiteh told him to come to their office. He said upon arriving they showed him a letter of termination that Momodou Jallow was dismissed as an Alkalo of Sinchu Gidom and that the Kabiloship is returned to Jamburr.
He identified the termination letter and it was tendered and marked as exhibit without any objection from the accused person.
The case is adjourned to 24th November 13, 2014 for continuation of PW1’s testimony.
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