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Momodou
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 Posted - 03 Apr 2007 : 15:22:24
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DEFEATED INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR NIAMINA EAST TESTIFIES IN COURT
The trial of the defeated independent candidate for Niamina East, Ebrima L. S. Mareneh, and his campaign coordinator, Talibo Ceesay, proceeded at the Jareng Magistrate Court recently. The case is before Magistrate Baldeh.
In his evidence in chief, the 1st accused, Ebrima L.S Marenah, said he was an independent candidate during the last National Assembly elections; that on the 19th day of January 2007, while he was having a political meeting in Kudang, he got information that some of his supporters were arrested and brought to Jareng Police Station; that he and his coordinator, Talibo Ceesay, the 2nd accused, went to the police station to find out the reason for their arrest. He said on arrival, they found a gathering of about 15 to 20 people in front of the police station being addressed by the chief, Alh. Kebba Touray, and the NIA officer, Demba Fofana. He said that they found the two telling the others that they know that they are supporting him, the independent candidate, and that if he, Marenah, wins they will be in serious trouble, as most of them are Alkalos and APRC committee members; that it is the APRC government which gave them those positions and that is why they should not support any other candidate than that of the APRC. According to Marenah, the chief and the NIA operative further told the people that the Secretary of State for Local Government and Lands, Ismaila Sambou, was there and had asked them to give him the names of all the Alkalos who are supporting the independent candidate so that he will sack them. He said they appealed to him to forgive them; that they promised that they will call them (the Alkalos) to warn them to desist from supporting an opposition candidate. He said they threatened them that if they want peace for themselves, they should make sure that he does not win. He said at that moment, they were asked to board the vehicles to take them to their various villages. Marenah said he and his coordinator went to Kudang. He said they parked their motor bike at a fuel dealer's place. He said when they came for the motor bike, they asked for the man who was entrusted to take care of it and they were directed to the opposite shop. "Then I asked my coordinator to wait for me by the motor bike whilst I look for the fuel sellers so as to add some more fuel," said Marenah. He said when he came back, he was informed by the people sitting nearby that his partner was arrested by a police officer. He said he also followed them to the police station. He said as he entered the station's veranda, he heard Gibba telling his coordinator "your counterpart has run away." He said it was then that he told Gibba, "here I am I shall never run away." He said Gibba then asked him who he was and he told him his name and that he was the independent candidate contesting for the Niamina East Seat. He said Gibba again asked him the reason why he was there. He said he told him that he got information that some of his supporters were arrested and that is what he came to find out. He said Gibba further said, "Why didn't you identify yourself when you came? I said there was no need to identify myself because I found the chief and the NIA talking, and everybody was listening; I could only stand by and listen, but not to interfere. After all, I understand the information I got is not credible so there was no need to even talk to you about it." He said Gibba told him that he has no right to come to the police station. "I then said to him that I have the right to be there. That was the time Fofana the NIA officer came and told Gibba that don't waste your time talking to this man, put him in cell; I am responsible for any thing." He said that was the time he was asked to go over the counter and subsequently put in a cell with his coordinator until the following day when they were granted bail.
Cross Examination By Prosecutor Colley.
Q. When you arrived at Jareng police station, did you see any of your supporters within the gathering?
A. Yes
Q. Who are they?
A. Almost all the people gathered here (Police Station) are my supporters.
Q. Can you give their names?
A. I don't know their names. I only recognise them.
Q. I am putting it to you that none of those people were your supporters?
A. Yes they are my supporters.
Q. Where were you standing when the chief was addressing the gathering?
A. In front of the police station
Q. I am putting it to you that you were standing at a distance where you were identified by Madi Noho?
A. I was standing in front of the police station in the midst of the people being addressed by the chief.
Q. Am further putting it to you that none of your supporters were arrested?
A. I said in my evidence in chief that they were not arrested, but brought here (Police Station) to threaten them
Q. Where was Talibo when you came to Jareng police station?
A. I was with him just as how we are standing by each other at the moment.
Q. Was he within the midst of the people?
A. Yes, of course.
Q. I am putting it to you that you only came to Jareng to provoke the peace which was existing?
A. No, I did not come to provoke the peace. I am a peace maker. End of cross-examination.
At this stage the 2nd accused took over. He said his names are Talibo Ceesay; that he lives in Kudang and is a tailor; that on the 19 of January 2007, while in Kudang, the 1st accused told him that he got information that some of his supporters were arrested and taken to Jareng police station. He said he decided to go with 1st accused to the station, that on arrival, they parked their motorbike at a fuel dealer's place. He further said that when they came to the police station, they saw people gathered in front of the station and the chief, Alh. Kebba Touray, was talking to them. He said he heard him telling the people that they should not support the independent candidate because some of them are Alkalos. He said, that Fofana, the NIA operative told them that the information that the Alkalos are supporting the independent candidate has reached Banjul and that the Secretary of State for Local Government had asked them to list down their names and send it to him for dismissal. According to the 2nd accused it was at that moment that one Madi Noho came and greeted him and then asked him where he was from. He said that he told him, "I came from Kudang and then he left." He said from there, they asked them to disperse, and they also went to collect their motorbike. He said as the 1st accused went to look for the fuel dealer, the police officer Gibba came and asked him about him (Marenah). He said he told him that it was Marenah that he was waiting for. He said that Gibba then told him that the 1st accused, Marenah has ran away. He also replied that Marenah cannot run away; that is not true; that this was the time he said he was arrested by Gibba and asked to follow him to the station. After a while the 1st accused, Marenah, came in and then they were both put in a cell until the following day.
Cross Examination of 2nd Accused.
Q. Are you a supporter of the independent candidate?
A. Yes.
Q Were you supposed to hold a meeting on that day?
A. We were having a meeting in Kudang.
Q. You know that the APRC should have a meeting in Jareng on that day and you came and join in their midst to provoke the peace?
A. APRC was not suppose to hold a meeting in Jareng on that day.
Q. I am further putting it to you that you were standing at a distance to listen to what the APRC people were saying?
A. I was in the midst of the people gathered in front of the police station.
Q. I am finally putting it to you that you came to Jareng purposely to follow the APRC candidate which would have breached the peace?
A. No
At this stage, the case was adjourned to 24th of April 2007 for judgment, and the Magistrate reminded the parties that the bail condition remains the same.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 38/2007, 2-3 April 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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