Defence Opens Their Case in Bun Sanneh and Co.

FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)

Abubacarr Saidykhan

15 July 2011

Seedy Bojang, the fifth accused person in the ongoing criminal trial of Ibrahima Bun Sanneh and Co, continued with his evidence in chief before Justice Emmanuel Amadi of the High Court of the Gambia on the 14th day of July 2011 emphasizing before a crowded court room that he has not stolen money from any body while he was working as an NDEA officer in Banjul.

Continuing, the first defence witness said after the signing and receiving of the money by the fourth accused person Marrie Sanneh, he (Bojang) went back to the office. He said he has informed the first accused person about the issue of the said money which was D40, 000.

At this juncture the witness was shown defense exhibit 2, which he confirmed as the receipt of the second payment done by Marie Sanneh; adding he also signed the same receipt. He further went to say that there was a receipt of D100,000 which he gave to Marrie Sanneh and was again shown defense exhibit 5 which was signed by Marrie Sanneh, he remarked.

Mr. Bojang said his assistant was there when the fourth accused Marrie Sanneh was receiving the D100.000, noting that he did not give her the full receipt because the payment was incomplete.

Asked whether the case of one Baboucarr Jatta was registered in court, the witness said the case of Baboucarr Jatta has not been registered indicating that they were three in number when the transaction took place which are the 1st, 2nd, and 5th accused persons. He said he does not merely accept part payments in receipt of drug cases; noting that he has never forged any document on behalf of Marrie Sanneh.

He said he made an entry of D40,000 which was receipted from him and signed; adding that to say that he received the said money from Alieu Sanneh was not true.

Further giving his testimony, Mr. Bojang said the first accused person Bun Sanneh gave an order for maintenance of one vehicle through the office of mechanic Alieu Sanneh. He said a proforma invoice was made for missing parts of the said vehicle, noting that he directed Alieu Sanneh to the first accused person and that the first accused person called him to go and answer which he did.

He said he made the parts available to Alieu Sanneh through financial transaction; adding that the said vehicle was repaired and he informed the first accused person about it. He said Exhibit P19 is not the manifesto that Alieu Sanneh brought to the office and that he further asked Alieu Sanneh to go and show it to the first accused person, Bun Sanneh.

Seedy Bojang said the amount on that manifesto was D16,000; adding that the amount in exhibit P19 was D42,000 and that from there Alieu told him that the first accused said he should go ahead with it. He said Alieu Sanneh came with D16,000 from the garage and that he (Bojang) told him to go and show it to the Director.

After that Alieu Sanneh told the first accused that he is going to buy fuel amounting to D11,000 in order for him to go to Basse. He said Alieu then went with the rest of the money arguing that he is going on a long trip and that in case there is any problem during the journey, he Alieu would use the rest of the money to what ever problem he may have on the road.

Hearing on this matter continues.

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