PW 10 Testifies in Ex SG Sabally’s Trial

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By Rohey Jadama Mr Alhassan Ndoye, the tenth prosecution witness (PW 10), who is based in the United States of America (USA), has yesterday, 4th June 2015, testified in the ongoing economic Modou Sabally SGcrime trial involving Mr. Momodou Sabally, the former Secretary General, Head of the Civil Service and Minister of Presidential Affairs, before Justice Emmanuel Amadi of the Banjul High court. Mr. Ndoye told the court that he is a general contractor and that he lives in Washington DC and that he knows the accused person. He adduced that he also knows both the Alkali of Bijilo (PW2) and Sheikh Omar Bah (PW1), who is a friend to the accused. PW10 told the court that sometime in 2014, the Bijilo Alkali PW2 introduced him to PW1 and telling him that he wanted to sell cars to the president of the republic but was having difficulties to get to access him (president). He said PW2 told him that PW1 is a friend to Mr. Sabally, the accused (former Secretary General), as they used to work together in a bank and that he (PW1) will introduce him to the former. He told the court that the reason why he wanted to see the president is to sell the two vehicles to him and also to talk to him about urban development because he has partners in the US who are investors. Mr. Ndoye said he spoke to PW2 and was told that the accused wanted to meet him in his house. He said when PW1 introduced him to the accused at his house, he explained to him that he wanted to sell two vehicles to the president and that the cars were parked outside the accused person’s house. PW10 told the court that one of the vehicles is Dutch Rime and 4 doors pickup. He said after explaining his company to the former SG, the latter promised to talk to the president about it and after which they went outside to look at the vehicles. He said the accused told him that the Roots Homecoming Festival was coming and that they would like to invite the mayor of Washington to the event. He said he told the accused that he can help him in that. Mr. Ndoye said himself, PW1 and PW2 took the trucks to state house where they met General Badjie, Captain Tamba and Commander Dibba who inspected them. He said after this he was asked by the accused to stay and grace an event that was about to take place. He said commander Dibba escorted him, PW1 and PW2 to the stage as special guests and that he was introduced to the president by the accused. “I told the president I like what he was doing and would like to help Gambia,” said the witness. Mr. Ndoye further told the court that the president said to him that if he helps Gambia he is not going to regret it and that he asked him (president) whether he was told about the vehicles. He said the president said to him that he was told but has not seen them; that he (Ndoye) informed him that they were parked near General Badjie’s office. The witness said the accused told him to take the vehicles home and bring them back the next day at 1pm. He said on the next day they brought the vehicles and parked them at state house. The witness added that he spoke to the accused about the paper work of the vehicles and told him to give it to PW1 who will give it to him. Antouman Gaye told the court that he was served with the additional summary of evidence which, he said, is 35 pages and that he needs time to read it. Responding to the defence counsel, the DPP said the witness is not a new witness and that they only listed in the summary of evidence the documents that they intend to tender through the witness. Barrister Gaye said the law is very clear that the accused person is entitled not only to know the names of the witnesses that are to testify but also the list of exhibits to be tendered in court. The DPP then withdrew the said document and demanded for the defence to return the copy back to him. The case was adjourned to Monday, 8th June 2015 at 12.30 pm for continuation of the testimony of PW10]]>