FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
Fabakary B. Ceesay
12 July 2008
Mr. Babou Loum, the Independent witness, who testified in the concealment of treason trial of Marabout Hamadi Sowe at the High Court, before Justice Yamoah, was on Monday, 9 June, cross-examined by defense counsel, Mrs. Neneh Cham Chongan.
Mr. Loum told the court that he was called to serve as an independent witness to other accused persons. He said he could not tell if he is the only independent witness; that he only knows of himself. When asked whether he knew Sergeant Ndure before the 21 March 2006, coup plot, he said he and Sergeant Ndure are both natives of Barra and are intimate friends. The witness said that anytime Sergeant Ndure needed an independent witness he used to be called him all the way from Barra to Banjul to serve as one. He said that 19 April, 2006, was his first day to enter Mile Two Prison. He said he was called by Sergeant Ndure at around 10:00am; that he arrived at Mile Two Prison at around 1:00pm. Mr. Loum said that he knows what it means to be an independent witness because he is used to it.
"You will agree with me that you are a candidate to serve as an independent witness," said Lawyer Cham Chongan. "No it is because of my patriotism, but I have no verse knowledge in it," replied Loum.
"Are you the only patriot in The Gambia?" asked Chongan.
Loum replied, "Well I know of myself".
Mr. Loum said at Mile Two, the statement was obtained in a room which looks like an office.
"I'm putting it to you that you were never at Mile Two to witness anything," said Chongan.
"All what I'm saying is the truth," said Loum.
"Because you were not present that is why you cannot tell the court how the voluntary statement was taken," said Chongan. Loum replied in the negative.
"I'm also putting it to you that you were called at a different place to append your signature to the statement, but not at Mile Two Prison," said Chongan.
Loum replied: "On the 19th April 2006, I was at Mile Two Prison to sign the statement in the presence of Hamadi Sowe".
"This is the first time you came face to face with Hamadi Sowe," said Chongan.
Loum replied: "I swear that today is my third time to set eyes on Hamadi Sowe".
"I'm putting it to you that you never said the truth, that you have never witnessed the statement of Hamadi Sowe," said Chongan.
Loum replied, "I was present there and I know how it was all conducted.
The state counsel, A.S Umar, told the court that they are trying to get through to Sergeant Ndure, who obtained the statement of the accused person through telephone. Sergeant Ndure is said to be on a peace-keeping mission in Darfur, Sudan.
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