The nine alleged Senegalese insurgents who are standing trial at the Banjul Magistrates Court were receiving three million CFA Francs every month from the Senegalese government, a prosecution witness told the court on Thursday, November 22. The group is charged with espionage, planning attack on Senegal and illegal possession of Gambian national documents.

The prosecution witness, Amadou Sanneh of the Serrekunda Police Station, told the court that one of the accused persons, Abdou Salam Jammeh confessed to him that they received three million CFA from the Senegalese authorities through one Latif Hydara in Senegal. "They used it in their operations and shared it with other factions in Cassamance," the witness said.

Mr. Sanneh told the court that they found about seven million, seven hundred and ninety thousand CFA francs and one thousand euros with the insurgents. He said the other items he discovered from the insurgents were two motorcycles, a laptop, a camera, a bag of talisman (Jujus), a cashbook, map of The Gambia, map of Senegal, military camouflage clothes, military boots and AK 47 magazines.

Mr. Sanneh added that they also found pictures of key military installations in The Gambia such as State House and Fajara Barracks with the insurgents. The prosecution witness testified that on May 18, 2007 he was informed by the Crime Management Coordinator of The Gambia Police Force to report to the National Intelligence Agency Headquarters (NIA) in Banjul where a panel was formed to investigate the activities of the alleged insurgents in The Gambia. He said the first to appear before the investigative panel was Abdou Salam Jammeh who told them that he is from Cassamance and that he is a resident of Brakemen Nyambai.

Mr. Sanneh added that Mr. Jammeh was asked whether he has a right to be in The Gambia, and he said he has a Gambian passport, birth certificate and identity card. "He was asked about his MFDC activites. He said he is not an MFDC member but their marabout, especially the group of five based in The Gambia," the witness recalled. He said the group of five is constituted by Nuha Jammeh, Sidat Jarju, Ebrima Colley (all on trial), Hatab Jatta and Kasaly Sonko (both at large).

According to Mr. Sanneh, the group of five have been sponsored by the Senegalese government and they are here representing the other factions fighting in Cassamance. Mr Sanneh narrated that Abdou Salam Jammeh told the panel that he was given money on two occasions to buy arms but he diverted it for his own use. He testified that Jammeh said he was confronted to pay it. According to him, Jammeh said he was expecting money from his brother in Germany.

"He was asked if he is willing to give a statement and he answered in the positive. I was asked to go with him in one of the offices to obtain his statement". The witness said he then invited one Tijan Bah, a retired civil servant to serve as an independent witness and introduced them to each other. "I then took out a cautionary form and told him that whatever he said could be used in court as evidence and that he is free to say what he wished. He then signed and the independent witness also signed," the prosecution witness told the court.

Mr. Sanneh also said the accused person then wrote his statement and signed it at the bottom. "I also put in my name as the officer present and finally the independent witness signed," he said. The prosecution witness testified that Abdou Salam Jammeh later appeared on May 30 and June 5 to clarify certain issues and was again asked if he is willing to make a statement, and he agreed. He said the same procedure was applied and the same independent witness attended the recording of the statement.

On May 21, 2007, according to Mr. Sanneh another accused person, Nuha Jammeh, was questioned by the investigating panel and he told them that he was from Cassamance and that he is a member of the MFDC, part of the group of five based in The Gambia and the one responsible for their finance. Mr. Sanneh narrated that Nuha Jammeh confessed that he has a Gambian Identity card, money, camera, laptop, military boots and camouflage, AK 47 magazines, the motorcycles, cash book, maps of The Gambia and Senegal and the pictures.

According to Mr. Sanneh, Nuha Jammeh said they received the money monthly from Latif Hydara with the knowledge of the Senegalese Embassy in The Gambia. Mr. Sanneh said the money is received at Praia Motel in Serrekunda and shared within the group of five and those in Cassamance. The witness said Nuha admitted owning one of the motorcycles that is among the many motorcycles and vehicles given to them by the Senegalese authorities. He added that Nuha was asked if he is willing to make a statement, which he agreed to and they went with an independent witness to an office where he was cautioned and his statement recorded. He said Nuha volunteered to make the statement, which was signed by the three of them, and it was translated to him in Wollof and he did not ask for anything to be amended. Mr. Sanneh told the court that he could recognise Nuha's statement because it is in his own handwriting. He said the accused person did re-appear before the investigating panel but no statement was obtained from him.

On May 24, 2007, Mr. Sanneh said the 7th accused person; Joseph Jatta was brought before the panel and he acknowledged being a member of the MFDC, and said he has a Gambian identity card. According to the prosecution witness, Joseph said he has no relationship with the group of five based in The Gambia. He said Joseph agreed to give a statement and he went with him to an office where he took a statement from him, applying the same procedure as in the case of Nuha and Abdou Salam with the independent witness present. Mr. Sanneh said Joseph volunteered to give his statement and it was read to him in Wollof to his satisfaction and all of them signed it. He said he could recognise the statement if it is shown to him. He said the accused person made no other statement.

The trial continues on Wednesday and Thursday before Magistrate B.Y Camara.