By Mariama Marong
Lawyer Combeh, a prosecuting lawyer in the ongoing trial of former NIA officials on Monday, 22nd February 2021 continued her cross-examination of Baboucar Sallah.
Baboucar Sallah is the 4th accused person in this case. He is charged together with ex-director general of NIA, Yankuba Badjie, ex-deputy director of operations, Sheikh Omar Jeng and four others.
They are facing 25 criminal counts ranging from murder, conspiracy and torture. They are charged in relation to the April 14, 2016 UDP demonstration.
Below is the continuation of Baboucar Sallah’s cross-examination by Lawyer Combeh Gaye.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: Mr. Baboucarr Sallah, how long do you work for NIA on 14th April 2016
Baboucar Sallah: 14TH April 2016 to February 2017, that is the period I have served the NIA.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: When did you start working for NIA?
Baboucar Sallah: In the year 2000.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: Before you work in the NIA 2000, where did you work?
Baboucar Sallah: In the Army.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: How long did you work in the Army?
Baboucar Sallah: I cannot remember how long I have worked in the army.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: But you can remember the year you start working.
Baboucar Sallah: In 1989.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: When you joined the year in 1989, did you join any other occupation?
Baboucar Sallah: I left the army.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: When did you leave the army you joined in 1989?
Baboucar Sallah: I cannot recall when I left the army.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: Mr. Sallah, I am putting it to you that you know the year, you don’t just want to answer.
Baboucar Sallah: I forgot it.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: As in 1994, were you serving the army?
Baboucar Sallah: Yes.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: How long after that did you leave?
Baboucar Sallah: It is a long time and I cannot remember.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: Mr. Sallah from the year 2000 to 2016, is period of 16 years.
Baboucar Sallah: It could be.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: did you serve the NIA continuous from 2000 to 2016.
Baboucar Sallah: Yes.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: Mr. Sallah did you know Mr. Baboucar Njie, the head of the scientific support unit in the NIA in the year 2016.
Baboucar Sallah: Yes.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: What about Pa Sering Mboob Prosecution Witness number 10?
Baboucar Sallah: I am not familiar with him. I have come to know him in this court.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: But you know him at the NIA before here.
Baboucar Sallah: NIA officers don’t know each other. He was at the investigation side while I was at the Atlantic Hotel.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: What about Mbemba Camara Prosecution Witness 13, he also works at the NIA.
Baboucar Sallah: Yes.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: Did you know Seedy Saidy Bah who works as a security man at NIA headquarters?
Baboucar Gaye: Yes.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: Do you know Samba Sowe, he was the head of investigation.
Baboucar Sallah: Yes.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: Did you know Sheikh Tijan Camara Prosecution Witness 19, who worked at the NIA at the patrol team.
Baboucar Sallah: When he joined the NIA. I was in and out of duty and I only come to know Sheikh Tijan in this court.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: How did you know that he joined the NIA, if you did not know him before?
Baboucar Sallah: I came to know him in this court.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: Mr. Sallah, the question is, how did you know when he joined the army?
Baboucar Sallah: I was among the last team trained, when we were out on duties.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: In April 2016 both you and Sheikh Tijan Camara were working at the NIA.
Baboucar Sallah: That is not true. I was at Atlantic Hotel.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: On the 14th of April 2016, you were not on duty but you were called.
Baboucar Sallah: I was at Atlantic Hotel and I was called by 4am to 5am to report to the headquarters.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: Mr. Sallah did you remember telling the police at your interview, that you were not on duty but you were called to come in and work. Mr. Sallah in exhibit D1 is the transcribed version of the police interview at the police headquarters and you told the police that you were there.
Baboucar Sallah: I was not aware of saying such to the police. I was intoxicated.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: Did you remember going to the police in 2017, during the course of investigating this case.
Baboucar Sallah: I only saw myself in the cell the following day.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: All the names like PW17 Baboucar Njie, Pa Sering Mboob PW10, Mbemba Camara PW13, Seedy Saidy Bah PW14, Samba Sowe PW11 and Sheikh Tijan Camara, PW9 all testified before this court and they told this court that you were present at the NIA headquarter in the afternoon of the 14th to 15th of April 2016.
Baboucar Sallah: Is not true because they accepted to testify as prosecution witnesses while those of us who refused to accept were taken to Mile 2.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: Are you telling this court that all the witnesses who testified in this case are lying that you were there from 14th to 15th April 2016.
Baboucar Sallah: It is true because I was at the Atlantic Hotel.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: You returned to the NIA few minutes after 4am after the arrival of Lamin Lang Sanyang, the 9 accused person.
Baboucar Sallah: That is not true because Lamin Lang Sanyang and I met at Mile 2.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: Mr. Sallah your evidence before this court is that you were drunken, so you did not go to Tanji NIA training camp.
Baboucar Sallah: Yes, I did not go.
Lawyer Combeh Gaye: Mr. Sallah I put it to you that your evidence was a fabrication.
Baboucar Sallah: I have taken an oath and whatever I say here is the truth.
The case is adjourned to Tuesday, the 23rd of February 2021 at 1pm.
