Mbye Njie, the former director of Operationof the NDEA on Thursday told the Banjul Magistrates' Court, presided over by Principal Magistrate Taiwo Ade Alagbe that he is innocent of the alleged D15, 000 bribery case.

He made this revelation in the court while continuing his defence testimony in the corruption trial involving the state against him. In his evidence, Njie further explained his encounter with Alhaji Bakary Jammeh, saying during this case in the court premises, Jammeh, on the day he was supposed to testify told him (Njie) that he was going to lock him up because of all the detentions he (Njie) did to him.

He further said that PW2 (Alhaji Bakary Jammeh) is a notorious criminal.

According to him, PW1 (Saikouba Jammeh) gave a statement in this case at NDEA in Kanifing (Holgam) in August 2011 and he (PW1) also gave another statement on the 19th July 2012 just two hours before he was arrested and brought to court. He said he doesn't have any idea about the D15, 000 and D5, 000 bribe mentioned in court. He further told the court that he is innocent of all these allegations as he only authorised Sarjo Jallow's bail because he was sick in cell.

He added that it is not true that he was given D15, 000 in OC Sheriff Sanyang's office in the presence of PW1 and PW2. He stated that he made a witness statement on the 17th August 2011 in this case and the said statement was tendered and marked as exhibit in the court. He further narrated that in March 2011, NCA 2, Ndongo Gaye came to his office and informed him about an accused in Basse and he called the OC in Basse and the accused but to no avail, adding that he (Njie) told Gaye to bring the bail bond and in the said bond he called the number on it and got Sarjo Jallow. He said he used his police strategy to make Sarjo Jallow to report in the NDEA Banjul Station.

He said he instructed for the case to be forwarded to the prosecution but after two weeks OC Sanyang informed him that Sarjo was sick in the NDEA cell in Banjul and he was taken to hospital twice. According to him, in order to avoid another blame on him in case he (Sarjo) dies in cell because he was the one who instructed for his detention, he authorised for him to be bailed if he meets the requirement of bail.

He revealed that since his release on bail, he did not hear anything about Sarjo Jallow until the day he was called at the NDEA in Kanifing (Holgam) to give a witness statement, adding that he was told to write a witness statement which he did on the next day and submitted it to the investigating NDEA officers. Njie disclosed that he saw and read the statements of both PW1 and PW2 and that there was no allegation against him.

At that juncture the case was adjourned to 27th September 2012 for continuation of defence.