By”: Abdoukarim Jaiteh
State prosecutors led by senior state counsel, AM Yusuf Monday presented their first witness in the murder trial involving the embattled former AFPRC junta member and minister, Yankuba Touray before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the high court in Banjul.
Testifying before the court as the state first witness, Bubacarr Jamanka a police investigation officer attached to the criminal investigation department at the police headquarters in Banjul testified that he was called from his superior to join the investigation panel at the Kairaba police station.
Upon arrival at the station, the witness recalled that he joined his colleagues he preceded to anti-crime unit where he found the suspect and recorded voluntary and cautionary statements from him.
The witness further adduced that during the recording of the statements and the particulars of the suspect, he readout to the suspect which involved his alleged involvement in the murder of the former first junta finance minister, Ousman “Koro” Ceesay.
According to the state witness, after reading the statements and particulars, the suspect [Yankuba Touray] replied that he was invoking his constitutional immunity and as a result he refused to give any voluntary statement.
The witness further recalled that after reading the charge sheet and the cautionary wordings to Yankuba Touray, he insisted that he would not say anything and would not sign the statement, however, he did confirm that as the recorder, he signed the statements.
The said statements were subsequently tendered by the state counsel after the said statements were recognized by the witness and were admitted in evidence as exhibits after no objection was raised by the defence counsel, Abdoulie Sissoho.
Under cross-examination by the defence, the witness asserted that he was enlisted in The Gambia Police Force in 2008 and served as investigator for about 6 to 7 years.
The officers that were part of the panel of investigators, according to the state witness were himself, ASP Darboe, Inspector Saidy and Sergeant Saidy.
The witness claimed that the state was the complainant and the directive came from the state to launch an investigation into the matter, further adducing that he did not see the memo but he was briefed by his team leader.
The police investigator further claimed that he did not know at the time the suspect was already charged before meeting him at the anti-crime unit in Bijilo. However, he assumed that the suspect was detained at the unit for his safety following his refusal to testify before the TRRC.
The witness finally testified that there was no independent witness by the time statements were recorded from the suspect but confirmed that he was given an opportunity to call his lawyer but his lawyer could not be reached on telephone.
The case at that point was adjourned to 22 October when the state is expected to present another witness.
The suspect, Yankuba Touray is being tried on murder charge for his alleged involvement in the murder of the former junta finance minister, Ousman “Koro” Ceesay. Mr Touray however refused to give evidence when he appeared before the TRRC while claiming constitutional immunity and since then he was charged and detained at the State Central Prison at Mile2.